Most respected education voices being ignored
Hodgman and Rockliff not consulting, not listening
Eminent University of Cambridge voice weighs in
The Hodgman Liberal Government cannot ignore one of the world’s most respected and eminent leaders in early education by pushing ahead next week with its plan to lower the Tasmanian school starting age.
Shadow Education Minister Michelle O’Byrne said the government needed to listen to experts like the University of Cambridge Director for Research on Play in Education, Development and Learning Dr David Whitebread who described the plan to lower the starting age to four-and-a-half years for prep and three-and-a-half for kindergarten as “disastrous”.
In a statement, Dr Whitebread said:
“The intent of the government to provide high quality early learning at no cost to parents is laudable …. However, the present proposals will fatally undermine this ambition as they fly in the face of the extensive evidence we have about the best ways to provide high quality and universally available early childhood education. The effective push down of a more formal curriculum, arising from the proposed earlier start to school, is also disastrous.”
“Dr Whitebread has previously been ignored by the Education Minister on this important issue and he is just the latest voice of reason in the impending chaos the Hodgman Government is about to unleash by sending toddlers into our school yards,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“Instead of going ahead and pushing these changes through the Parliament next week, the government should be listening to respected voices like Dr Whitebread, admit they have gotten it wrong and go back to the drawing board.
“Jeremy Rockliff should be picking up the phone and talking to Dr Whitebread and other experts instead of assuming his arrogant I-know-best attitude.
“Parents and teaching staff are confused by this government’s moves.
“Local and international experts find it bizarre and unworkable.
“The Hodgman Government and the Education Minister, however, are taking the usual approach of simply refusing to listen.
“Of course there needs to be a greater investment in early-years learning but the government has plainly gotten it wrong by directing resources to the wrong area.”
Michelle O’Byrne MP Shadow Education Minister
