A thread on how COVID19 is revealing just how very broken Australia's early childhood education & care system is.
For several weeks there has been uncertainty about how school should be delivered. Will they close? Should students attend? Are teachers safe?
There has been NO uncertainty, however, about whether teachers or schools are needed. It's understood they're both critical.
There has been NO uncertainty, however, about whether teachers or schools are needed. It's understood they're both critical.
When it comes to early childhood education & care the questions are the same but the answers are very different. Centres only receive funding when children attend.
Childcare is very expensive so if income/work's being slashed and kids aren't meant to be attending because of COVID19, it's unsurprising that parents would opt to pull their children out of care.
What this means, though, is that unlike primary & secondary school teachers who haven't all been dismissed because students aren't coming, early childhood educators have been let go.
Last week Goodstart Early Learning, one of Australia’s largest providers, had to lay off 4,000 casual educators. These are among the lowest-paid works in the country so the idea of them being financially equipped to withstand this situation is ridiculous.
It is possible, as @LisaJBryant explains here, that childcare centres in Australia may close for good because of the Coronavirus. That will be a disaster. For children, educators & parents. School won't collapse & early education & care shouldn't either. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
