Agreement on kindergarten programs

31/10/96

The Education Department will run kindergarten programs in some of Western Australia's Family and Children's Services family centres, as a result of an agreement reached this week.

Education Minister Colin Barnett said the initiative was part of the State Government's range of commitment's announced today for early childhood education.

Mr Barnett said it was decided last year that the Education Department would take responsibility for all Government kindergarten programs and that responsibility for all programs would be progressively transferred to Education Department venues from 1997.

By 1999, all eligible children will be able to take part in a kindergarten program run by the Education Department.

However, the Minister said some parents had expressed concern that kindergarten programs would no longer operate in family centres, which have quality purpose-built buildings and facilities.

"Under an agreement reached this week between Family and Children's Services and the Education Department, kindergarten programs can remain in family centres because they have appropriate facilities," Mr Barnett said.

Family and Children's Services Minister Cheryl Edwardes said that the new arrangements would be implemented during 1998 and 1999.

"Before any changes are made, there will be consultation with the local community and any decision will be subject to agreement with family centre's management committee," Mrs Edwardes said.

"A further condition is that programs will only be provided in family centres if there is no alternative Education Department site in the locality."

Mr Barnett said the local primary school principal would have overall responsibility for the quality of the programs provided in the family centres and that the Education Department would provide qualified teachers.

The family centre's facilities would still be available for family and community programs.

Media contacts: Justine Whittome, Minister for Education, (09) 222 9699

Diana Russell-Coote, Minister for Family and Children's Services, (09) 421 7777