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Gulyangarri Public Preschool transforms Girisha’s early learning experience
Freya Lucas
Oct 21, 2024
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Just two months ago early learner Girisha Pareek (shown right with Charishma Kaliyanda, Member for Liverpool) was carrying three textbooks on an hour-long bus trip with her mum to her preschool in India.
This time last week, she walked with her parents to the brand new Gulyangarri Public Preschool in Liverpool, New South Wales, where she played in the sandpit and water station and learned about the seasons, numbers and read books.Girisha is one of 80 early learners who are benefiting from the first of the NSW Government’s 100 new public preschools, all of which are due to be completed by 2027.
Gulyangarri Public Preschool is located at Gulyangarri Public School and is the first of 100 to be built by the Government.
Officially opened last week by NSW Premier Chris Minns, NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car, and the Member for Liverpool, Charishma Kaliyanda, the new preschool has been described as ‘a game changer.’
“It means your child can start in a fee-free public preschool and go seamlessly from kindergarten to Year 6 on the same site,” Ms Car said.
“It helps with the transition to kindergarten. Every single principal I speak to will say they can tell the difference between the children that have access to preschool education and those who unfortunately do not.”
For Girisha’s father Mayank Pareek, the preschool has been an important part of settling into life in Australia. Mr Pareek has been in south-western Sydney working in the banking industry for two years on a skilled migrant visa. His wife, Poonam, and daughter Girisha joined him permanently two months ago.
“In India Girisha went to preschool from the age of three and a half but she had to carry maths, English and Hindi books and catch the bus at 7am,” he explained.
“It was a long day and then there was compulsory homework. This preschool is just so wonderful; we are in walking distance and so happy to be in the catchment area for the school.”
A number of the new preschoolers have siblings in the primary school and their parents are happy their children will grow with the school.
Fatima Al-Berehi said she hoped son Abbas, who is almost four, liked Gulyangarri Public Preschool as much as his sister, Rukaya, enjoyed kindergarten this year.
“Rukaya just loves school; she’s made many friends and she’s learning so much. I just want Abbas to make friends, play and have fun,” she said.
Rahel Abebe said her four-year-old son Yadiel had been attending a private early childhood centre two days a week and was “so ready” for preschool. His sister, Amen, is in kindergarten at Gulyangarri Public School.
Mrs Abebe and husband Solomon came to Australia from Ethiopia 10 years ago and moved to Liverpool five years ago, attracted by its beauty and multiculturalism.
Armann Mohammed, aged four, is excited to be attending preschool for the first time. After two weeks of orientation, dad Arif Mohammed said Armann “loves his teachers” and the experience would help his transition to school in 2025.
Mr Mohammed, who came to Australia from India 18 years ago to study, said Armann’s two younger brothers will attend the preschool and school in the future.
“The teachers at the preschool are qualified and they are already giving us feedback about our kids,” Mr Mohammed said.
“The preschool is a government favour to the parents because it’s very hard to find early childhood options and most are private that charge fees.”
Gulyangarri Public School has 180 students and is expected to grow to 1200 students to meet demand in the high-growth Liverpool area. The name Gulyangarri was chosen because it means “children” in the Darug language.
The school has students from most parts of the globe, including a significant number of refugee families. In the preschool, 88 per cent of the 55 enrolled children are from a language background other than English.
Principal Ian Tapuska said the public preschool would help form strong connections between children, families and school staff and foster a sense of belonging.
“The preschoolers are part of our public education family, and we look forward to supporting a positive transition to school for our youngest learners,” he said.
“As a new school our focus is on really getting to know each other, understanding our community and creating a really welcoming preschool to Year 6 community.”
For Mr Minns the opening of the preschool is a significant milestone.
“It’s not easy to build this type of infrastructure but it’s long lasting and it’s exactly what growing communities in western Sydney desperately need,” he said.
The overall $769 million investment in the 100 preschools will double the number of public preschools across the state by 2027 and provide 9000 more children with access to fee-free high-quality early education.
Tenders to build 85 more public preschools will be released by the end of the year, with seven already out to market for preschools in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions.
“No matter where you decide to raise your family in New South Wales, you should have access to quality, fee-free early education for your children – and that’s exactly what we’re working to deliver,” Mr Minns said. “One down, 99 to go!”
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