Tasmanian Labor has announced it will deliver five days of kindergarten in all public schools and introduce universal access to pre-school for three-year-olds if elected at the next election in the years to come.
Opposition Leader Josh Willie unveiled the education reforms at the University of Tasmania’s new Forest building in Hobart on Wednesday night, targeting Tasmania’s ‘early learning crisis’.
“Too many Tasmanian children are starting school already behind because they haven’t had enough time and support in the early years,” Willie said.
The policy aims to address cost-of-living pressures while improving educational outcomes for children who are falling behind their mainland peers.
Currently, nearly 40% of Tasmanian three-year-olds miss out on early learning opportunities, according to Willie.
“That is a lost opportunity for those children, for their families and for our state,” he said.
The five-day kindergarten program would give children more time to learn and build confidence before starting school, while reducing childcare costs for families.
Willie said the reform would particularly help women return to work or increase their working hours.
“Five day kinder means children walk into Prep ready to succeed. It means families spend less on childcare,” he said.
“And it means more parents can return to work if they choose – especially women.”
Labor’s plan includes funding for school infrastructure upgrades such as additional classrooms and toilets, plus support for long daycare centres to expand.
The party has also promised to train more teachers and educators through expanded university and TAFE pathways.
The reforms would be supported by expanded before and after-school care and a tailored play-based curriculum designed for Tasmanian communities.
Labor has not yet released detailed costings for the policy.
