Experts have renewed calls for universal free childcare after data showed the number of children attending preschool is falling, Guardian Australia writes on March 30.
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on March 30 showed that there were 4,575 fewer children enrolled in childcare programs in 2022 compared to the previous year, a drop of 1.3%.
Of those who were enrolled, only one in four had access to free childcare, and three in 10 parents paid A$5 or more per hour for preschool programmes.
Access to fully subsidized early childhood education depends on the policies and programs of individual states and territories, which change from year to year.
States such as South Australia, as well as New South Wales and Victoria heavily subsidize early childhood education, while students from disadvantaged, very low-income and at-risk families are also eligible for certain programmes.
Early childhood education and care consultant Lisa Bryant said that “a crazy mix of different models” it is confusing for parents and needs to be simplified to provide universal, free or very low-cost access for all.
“This is crazy and… shows how bad the system isshe said. — Chaos is built into the system and needs to be rebuilt.”.
The data showed that 334,440 children ages four to five were enrolled in preschool programs, representing approximately nine out of 10 four-year-olds and 20% of five-year-olds.
Overall, parents of around two-thirds of children attending preschool programs paid A$4 (RUB205) or less per hour out-of-pocket after subsidies, and three in 10 paid AUD5 (RUB260) or more.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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