Arabic version: تساؤلات حول هدف افتتاح رياض الأطفال العامة في نيو ساوث ويلز

According to ABC News, the Minns government’s pledge for 100 new public preschools to be operating from day one of term one in 2027 has faced questions after Education Minister Prue Car declined to say how many would be accepting children by that deadline.

Car joined Premier Chris Minns to open a new public preschool at Yagoona, alongside the local primary school in Sydney’s south-west. The centre is part of the government’s planned network of 100 preschools offering fee-free early education for children in the year before kindergarten.

In May, Car said “every single one” would be “open and operating” on the first day of term in 2027. On Monday, she confirmed all sites would be finished by then, but repeatedly did not specify how many would be taking students on day one. In an afternoon statement, she said all 100 would be delivered and ready to accept students by Day 1, Term 1, 2027.

Each preschool requires approval from the independent NSW Early Learning Commission. Car declined to say whether she expected delays during that regulatory process. Shadow Early Education Minister Felicity Wilson said families needed certainty about where their children would be enrolled.

The government has opened 14 new centres in time for term four, including sites at Cartwright, Granville East, Guildford West and Villawood North, as well as regional preschools at Leeton and Moorland. Seven other public preschools are already accepting students. Minns said locating centres alongside primary schools could save parents time and help children transition to kindergarten.