UN Goal 4. Quality Education Ensure inclusive and equitable education and promote lifelong opportunities for all Target 4.2 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre‑primary education so that they are ready for primary education.
Indicator 4.2.2ALT needs improvement
Aspect of the goal and target of the research: Many Australians have the privilege to enjoy high levels of educational opportunities and outcomes, but research adds another side to this story. According to (SDG, n.d.), majority of children finding difficulties accessing quality education in the early years are those who have low socio-economic backgrounds, live in remote areas and Indigenous backgrounds. This is a big deviation across the society and seems like Australia has much more work to do to achieve equitable access to inclusive quality education for all children in the early years.
My Location
Local Context: My home town is Point Cook which is a suburb that is looked after by Wyndham City Council. Wyndham City Council is one of Australia’s busiest municipalities due to its fast population growth. According to Wyndham City Council (n.d.), the current population in Wyndham is 217,122 and has been estimated to almost double the number by 2041 as a result of babies. This means the Council has the responsibility to double the early learning facilities by 2041 to cater all children’s developmental and educational needs. In other words, Wyndham City face serious demands to provide primary schools and pre-primary for residents in short amount of time period due to the fast population growth. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016), 31.1% of people attend primary school and 6.3% attend preschool in 2016. Pre-primary attendance percentage is seemingly low and well below the OECD average.
Solution 1 - Funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten Provider Victorian Government Providing 15 hours play-based learning. The program will be offered in stages starting from 2020. Aims to provide the program across the country for all children by 2022, begin with 5 hours (DET, 2020). Target Audience All children who turn 3.5 years old by 30th April in the year they start Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program (DET, 2019b). Cost
Families with higher income – approximately $1500 (Government of Victoria, 2020).
Low or no cost for: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander/Triplet or quadruplet/Covered by a Health Care Card, Holds eligible concession card or refugee, humanitarian or asylum seeker visa, or their parents or guardian does (Government of Victoria, 2020b).
Gap
Children whose parents are non-Australian residents, but struggling to pay the fees misses out.
Even though the funding is approved, there may be limited services offering this program leaving many children no spots to join in.
Children who are not up to date with their immunisation.
Other Insights
Children in wealthier families that value money over early childhood education might consider not to use this service.
Poor/ no attendance due to lack of trust in Early Childhood Educational programs or challenging family situations or medical reasons.
Solution 2 - Early Start Kindergarten Provider Victorian Government Providing 15 hours of free or low cost kindergarten a week for two year before going to school (DET,2019a). Target Audience
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children (DET, 2019a).
Children whose family have had contact with Child Protection (or been referred to Child FIRST) (DET, 2019a).
Cost Free or low cost Gap
Children who are not fall into above categories.
Limited availability in spots can result in having no spots for many children who meet the eligible criteria.
Children who are not up to date with their immunisation.
Other Insights
Poor/ no attendance due to challenging family situations or medical reasons.
Solution 3 - Koorie Kids Shine at Kindergarten Provider Victorian Government Providing 15 hours of free kindergarten each week (DET, 2019c). Target Audience
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (DET, 2019c).
Must turn three or four years old by 30 April in the year they go to kindergarten (DET, 2019c).
Cost Free Gap
All children live in Australia except Indigenous Australian children will miss out.
Children who are not up to date with their immunisation.
Inadequate availability of the program can limit the participation of eligible children.
Other Insights
Poor/ no attendance due to lack of trust in these programs or challenging family situations or medical reasons.