By Laura Michell
Whittlesea council has joined a campaign calling on the federal government to commit to long term funding for four-year-old kindergarten.
Federal budget documents have revealed that the government is planning to cease funding kindergarten beyond June 30, 2020.
Currently, the federal government provides funding for five hours a week of kindergarten, while the state government provides funding for 10 hours a week.
In a bid to ensure parents are not forced to make up the funding shortfall, the Municipal Association of Victoria has launched a campaign calling for the government to work with the states to secure kindergarten funding into the future.
MAV president and Whittlesea councillor Mary Lalios said if the federal funding was not made permanent, fee increases would price many families out of preschool.
Whittlesea mayor Kris Pavlidis said the council was backing the campaign because families were already struggling with the costs of childcare and school.
She said the current funding agreement provided quality early education in the year before school.
“Evidence shows quality access to early education improves student results in numeracy, reading and spelling,” Cr Pavlidis said.
“Our children are our best investment and they deserve high quality education that is stable and secure.
“Victorian families should not have to make up any government shortfall – they pay enough for kindergarten already.”
Victorian Early Childhood Education Minister Jenny Mikakos said families now faced doubt about the viability of kindergarten, with 2019 set to be the final year of four-year-old kindergarten as we know it.
Families can support the campaign by visiting www.ilovekinder.org.au
