14 SepELAA CEO comments on release of latest OECD Education at a Glance Report
ELAA CEO, Shane Lucas, spoke to the ABC Radio The World Today program yesterday following the release of the latest OECD Education at a Glance Report which shows Australia is going backwards on three-year-old participation in early learning.
“The OECD report demonstrates that Australian still has a way to go at both Commonwealth and State Government levels in it investment in Early Childhood Education and Care,” said Mr Lucas.
According to the Report, 3-year-old participation in Early Learning in Australia has decreased to 68% (down from 69% in 2014), while the OECD average 3-year- old participation increased from 73% to 78%, so there is now a 10% gap between 3yo participation in Australia (68%) and the OECD average (78%) (this gap widened by 6%).
However, Shane acknowledged the success story that is 4-year-old participation in Australian early learning programs. Participation in pre-primary (preschool) in the year before school in Australia rose significantly from 53% in 2005 to 90% 2015 (an increase of 5% from last year) as a direct result of the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access.
Shane concluded the interview by saying he applauded the Commonwealth Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, for his interest in the three-year-old space, however, asked that the Minister follow through on that interest by finding “new ways of investing into that area”.
Listen to the interview with ELAA CEO, Shane Lucas (note Shane’s comments commence at about 2 minutes and 32 seconds into the interview)
Read the Early Learning Everyone Benefits campaign media release re the OECD report
