Education Ministry: Toilet-Training Advisory
Minister of Education Dame Jennifer M. Smith today issued the following policy concerning the acceptance of children who are not toilet-trained into the public school system.
She advised that Clause 53 subsection (1) of the Education Act 1996 provides:
(a) “children shall be admitted according to admission procedures published by the Ministry.
(2) Subsection (1) relates only to the principles governing admission and confers no right to free education otherwise than as provided by this Act.”
Minister Smith said, “In making this announcement today – April 7, 2011, I am giving adequate notice, (five months), to parents, home care providers and guardians to ensure that children are ready and able to participate and function in a school environment.
“We are aware that some children who have been registered for public preschools are not toilet trained. Parents must ensure that this situation is addressed before September 2011. Toilet training is not a function of Education. Teacher training does not cover this aspect as children aged 4-years and up are expected to start school ready to learn. We are aware that the community expects a lot from our teachers and our schools – and we accept that responsibility. At the same time, parents must ensure that students enter school ready to learn.”
PDame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy is exempted from this policy as are any students where there is a documented medical reason for the lack of toilet training.
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I agree. Children should be potty trained from a young age and should be ready even before preschol.
I also agree that children should be potty trained when entering pre-school. Some are enrolled in pre-school at 3 years of age before entering Primary School. If they are born before December 31st of the year they are 5 years old they will enter Primary school at 4 years old, which is required by law. Most children can master potty training by the age of three, accidents will stil happen at three years old and should be expected without humiliation to the child. It should also be noted that in my expierience a child entering Primary School is expected to know how to write their name and tie their shoe laces before entering Primary School. If they don’t they are labeled developmentaly delayed! Why are the younger children not assesed and if necesary retained in pre-school for another year until they are 5 years old and have the required skill sets and maturity to learn with the other children, some which are almost a year older.
All children are gifted they just open their presents at different times.
I AGREE !!! Maybe some of these parents need to take time out to teach and see what their child or children are capable of doing ot not doing. get involved and its not up to the teacher at P1 to baby sit a child that should be able to do for self at the age. So SAD it is . What you put in as a parent is what the child puts out.
Lazy Parents that probably not potty trained themselves
Diapers and politicians should be changed often – for the exact same reason.
Confused . . . so does the Education Act that governs toilet training take into account students with special needs who do not qualify to be in a special school????????? I’m just wondering!!!!!
I agree yes, however 4 year olds in a new siuation, new kids, new adults no matter how potty trained they are they will be “accidents”. Come on with all that’s happening or not happening in public education the Minister is going on about natural occurances in ALL little kids. Puleeeeessseeee they are much more important things to deal with in the education system.