Page 2998 - Week 08 - Thursday, 15 August 2019
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is on recruiting more drivers. That is how we will deliver the increased services on the weekend.
MR COE: Minister, how many shifts are yet to be filled for this coming weekend?
MR STEEL: As I explained yesterday in the debate here in the Assembly, there is a range of complex factors in our rostering system. We try to fill the roster right up until and including the weekend of those services being delivered to make sure that as many services can be delivered as possible to the community. To say now on a Thursday, two days out from the weekend, that we are not running services would mean that we could not possibly fill those services. The Transport Canberra team works very diligently right up until the last minute to make sure that we can fill as many shifts as we can on the weekend and deliver more services, which we have done under the new network.
Mr Coe: Point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe.
Mr Coe: It is on relevance. The question I asked was: how many shifts are yet to be filled? It is quite objective. As of right now, where are the vacancies? To say that there is an in-principle objection to stating it—
MADAM SPEAKER: I think he explained that he was unable to provide that answer and that the department is working on it right to the end. So there is no point of order.
Education—early childhood education
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Minister, why has the government committed to working towards free, universal preschool access for all three-year-old children?
MS BERRY: I thank Mr Pettersson for the question and for his interest in early childhood education across the ACT. The impact of early childhood education on positive life outcomes is indisputable and supported by international and national research. OECD research involving 72 countries concluded that a minimum of two years of early childhood education is needed to have a good chance of educational success by 15 years of age.
Between three and five years of age, children develop the peer social skills needed to regulate their emotions. This is also a time when children are naturally curious, when a love of learning can be instilled and when critical cognitive, creative and language skills can be developed. High quality early childhood education plays an important role in supporting children to learn during these pivotal years. This is because learning is cumulative. Each stage builds on the last, enabling a child to learn for life. For children experiencing vulnerabilities or disadvantage, this education plays an even more significant role in turning the curve on inequity. When children start their formal education behind their peers, they often stay behind. Catching up becomes harder year on year.
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