Western Australia Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable

More schools apply for independent status

Victor P Taffa

More than 130 primary, secondary, district high schools and education support centres have put up their hands to take on Independent Public School status from 2011 in a bid to deliver better education to their students.

Western Australia Minister for Education Liz Constable said the Liberal-National Government’s Independent Public School initiative, which gives greater autonomy to schools while still providing the support and benefits of the public school system, was one of the State Government’s key election commitments.

“It is pleasing to see such diversity in the expressions of interest – schools from as far north as Port Hedland and as far south as Albany, and from a broad range of socio-economic areas have applied.” Dr Constable said.

“The early feedback from the first 34 Independent Public Schools has been overwhelmingly positive – schools and their communities have reported that the greater freedom and responsibility to ensure students have the best possible learning opportunities and outcomes have instilled a greater sense of school pride and ownership.”

“Principals of those schools have also reported great interest from teachers keen to work in Independent Public Schools, which can now select staff to best match schools’ needs.” Dr. Constable said.

Independent Public Schools have the ability to make decisions about their own curriculum, staffing configuration, school resources and expenditure.

“Community members, who are elected to school boards, provide valuable input into the strategic direction of schools and have a say in the selection of principals when positions become vacant.” the Minister said.

“Principals and staff have more local authority and freedom from central policies and procedures, but the schools will still be part of the public school system and remain accountable to the director general.”

An independent panel will now assess individually the 132 expressions of interest using the same rigorous process and criteria used to select the initial intake in 2009.

The successful schools which form the second intake of Independent Public Schools will be announced in July and they will then prepare to start as Independent Public Schools at the beginning of the 2011 school year.

A full list of the interested schools can be found at http://www.det.wa.edu.au/schoolsandyou or by calling 9264 4111.

Western Australia Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable

Four new primary schools to be built in time for 2012 school year

Victor P Taffa

The Western Australia State Government will today announce that four new primary schools will be built at an estimated total cost of $56 Million – in time to open for the 2012 school year.

These new schools are part of the State Government’s record $1.1Billion investment in new schools and building, refurbishment and improvement work across the State this year.

Education Minister Liz Constable said the new schools in Aveley, Malvern Springs (Ellenbrook), Meadow Springs (North of Mandurah) and Piara Waters (North of Forrestdale) will be built to meet the educational needs of some of Perth’s fastest growing suburbs and are expected to cost $14 Million each.

“This represents a major investment by the State Government in the education and social needs and the future of each of these growing communities.” the Minister said.

“On the first day of school in 2012, about 1,000 children across these four new schools will benefit from brand new classrooms, libraries, and sporting facilities which will be designed to be more efficient to build, have highly practical teaching spaces and include provision for the latest technology.”

“The schools will be designed to be environmentally sustainable, have enhanced accessibility, and will be equipped with the latest in computer technology, including fibre optic cabling and wireless networks throughout the classrooms.” Dr. Constable said.

Each school will comprise thirteen classrooms; three early childhood education classrooms; library/resource centre; a music room; an art/craft room; covered assembly area; canteen; administrative and staff facilities. 

A grassed oval together with hard courts for netball, basketball and tennis will also be provided.

Architects will be appointed immediately to commence the planning and the preparation of tender documents for the new schools. 

Construction is expected to commence in November this year with completion scheduled for January 2012 when it is expected that more than 240 students in Kindergarten to Year Seven will enrol at each school.

Tasmania Opposition Leader Will Hodgman

REAL CHANGE – MAKING PUBLIC EDUCATION FREE AGAIN

Victor P Taffa

Tasmania Opposition Leader Will Hodgman has announced that if elected on Saturday 20 March 2010 his Government will provide free travel for school students.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will provide the real change Tasmanians need by making public education free again. A government I lead will value education.

We have already announced that we will overhaul Tasmania Tomorrow, and committed to providing free bus travel to and from school for all school students.

Over recent years the basic right to a free education in Tasmania has been eroded by so-called “voluntary” general levies, of up to nearly $200 per year, per child.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will make public education free again in our Primary schools by abolishing general levies from 1 Jan 2011 – that’s next year.

We will invest sufficient funds into our public schools, rather than forcing parents to pay.

Schools will still be able to enrich their own curriculum with optional programs however the “voluntary” general levy will no longer be a burden on parents.

To ensure we maintain equity for parents of independent school children, we will provide more funding to independent schools, based on current funding formulas.

Combined with our policy of free bus fares, our plan for free education will save a family with two children in primary school over $1,000 per year.

The total cost of this policy is $12.5 Million over the forward estimates.

Responsibility for Election Comment

Under the provisions of the relevant Electoral Act responsibility for all election comment is assumed by Editor Victor P Taffa. The Registered office of The Southern Thunderer is at 4/69a Darvall Road, West Ryde NSW 2114.

South Australia Shadow Minister for Education David Pisoni

Rann targets marginal seats not education

Victor P Taffa

Premier Rann’s funding announcement to expand four of South Australia’s most popular high schools is a desperate bid to target marginal seats rather than the education needs of students.

David Pisoni, Shadow Education Minister said that this plan to increase the size of four Adelaide high schools is a reaction to a commitment by Isobel Redmond, Leader of the Opposition to build a second campus of Adelaide High School in the proposed Transit Orientated Development in Bowden.

“Mike Rann’s plan to crowd Adelaide High School with more students in the seat of Adelaide is a cynical ploy to play catch-up with a Redmond Liberal Government’s plan to address zoning issues and problems with the over enrollment he has consistently ignored.” Mr. Pisoni said.

“While the Rann Government intends to increase the size of student populations in successful high schools such as Adelaide, Brighton and Marryatville — which service seats they hope to win or retain– other community schools in safe Labor seats are being closed down and replaced with privatized super schools.”

“Isobel Redmond’s announcement of a Second Campus for Adelaide High School reflects the SA Liberals plan to expand on the model of a successful government school and substantially increase access to students from a wider region.” Mr. Pisoni said.

Even Mike Rann’s own Labor Members of Parliament don’t agree with his plans for “Super school”

On the question of whether John Rau (Enfield MP) supports closing local schools to create superschools:

“Do I think that this is the best possible outcome? No, I don’t. No, I
don’t.” (John Rau — public forum March 14)

“South Australian government schools will be returned to their communities under a Redmond Liberal Government. The Rann Government has neglected education in SA; they have ignored the reasonable expectation of parents that the public education system provide their children with a quality education.” Mr. Pisoni said.

Responsibility for Election Comment

Under the provisions of the relevant Electoral Act responsibility for all election comment is assumed by Editor Victor P Taffa. The Registered office of The Southern Thunderer is at 4/69a Darvall Road, West Ryde NSW 2114.

South Australia Shadow Minister for Education David Pisoni

Rann’s cruel behaviour management hoax

Victor P Taffa

South Australia Premier Mike Rann’s rushed announcement to address behaviour management issues in our government schools is an underfunded and poorly costed hoax from a Premier who has shown he can’t be trusted on education.

Mike Rann has announced $10.1 Million over four years to build six Better Behaviour Centres however Shadow Education Minister David Pisoni said Mike Rann’s costings did not add up.

“A similar program runs in Western Australia but that government allocates $35,000 per student per year – Mike Rann thinks he can do it for $2,500 per student per year.” Mr. Pisoni said.

“Mr. Rann has shown he can’t be trusted on education and today’s announcement is further proof.”

 “For eight years the Rann Government under resourced our three existing Behaviour Learning Centres as well ignoring behavioural, educational and social problems associated with high levels of truancy in our schools.”

“On 21 January 2004, 31 August 2006 and 29 January 2007 the Rann Government previously announced initiatives to focus on behaviour in our schools – but today’s announcement is an admission these initiatives have failed.” Mr. Pisoni said.

“Now Mike Rann wants you trust that he can deliver this promise even though he’s failed to address behavioural problems in our schools over the last eight years.”

“A Redmond Liberal Government will deliver increased levels of autonomy to school communities and principals in areas such as behaviour policy, staffing and budget management to improve the ability of schools to deal with their unique issues.”

“We will direct an extra $52 Million to school budgets to focus on Maths, Science and English basics, as well as provide $4 Million for extra SSO support hours and $16 Million to attract skilled teachers to our underperforming and challenging.” Mr. Pisoni said.

Responsibility for Election Comment

Under the provisions of the relevant Electoral Act responsibility for all election comment is assumed by Editor Victor P Taffa. The Registered office of The Southern Thunderer is at 4/69a Darvall Road, West Ryde NSW 2114.

Queensland Shadow Minister for Education and Training Bruce Flegg

Huge black hole in education green paper

Victor P Taffa

The Bligh Labor Government’s proposal to move 40,000 students from primary to high school struck a huge hurdle when the Opposition revealed it contains no mention of additional funding or the employment of teachers.

Shadow Minister for Education Dr Bruce Flegg said once again the Bligh Labor Government had failed to properly plan an onerous change and was racing against the clock to implement the change.

“The Green Paper’s $300 M for additional capital works is completely inadequate and we are yet to hear from Premier Bligh and Labor where those figures are coming from. Are these new funds or have other projects been raided for cash?” Dr. Flegg asked.

Dr Flegg said forcing Queensland high school students to make do with inadequate school facilities and then expect education standards to automatically improve was ludicrous.

“The Bligh Labor Government has no plan to improve the education standards of Queensland students and thinks an ill-planned quick fix will do the job.” Dr. Flegg said.

“It’s time the Minister started explaining what facilities the addition 40,000 high school students and the extra 2000 high school teachers will have access to.”

How will all Queensland students receive a laptop if basic facilities cannot be provided for?

Where would the money also come from if Canberra sucks 30% of G.S.T. earnings from State Government’s into its own budget black hole?

Is the Rudd Government financial wizardry for hospitals an attempt to conceal its own foiled failures for schools?

Tasmania Opposition Leader Will Hodgman

TEACHERS THREATENED

Victor P Taffa

A reported email from the head of Tasmania Premier David Bartlett’s Education Department threatening teachers is another example of how Labor will subvert proper process to cling to power.

“Mr Bartlett must explain what he knew about this latest desperate political act to bully teachers into submission.” Mr. Hodgman demanded to know.

Teachers are frustrated by months of David Bartlett’s intransigence over his failed Tasmania Tomorrow experiment.

Mr Bartlett has had many months to fix this problem but has failed.

Now faced with the very real prospect of a strike in the election campaign, he has reportedly allowed the secretary of his department to write to teachers threatening them if they strike.

At no point was this action discussed with the Liberal Party, which would be the correct procedure in a caretaker period.

This is a flagrant beach of process and demonstrates again just how far Labor will go to stretch its term in government to 16 years.

“Tasmanians deserve better. Tasmanians deserve the real leadership that will restore confidence in the State’s public institutions by acting within the rules.” Mr. Hodgman said.

“Tasmanians want their government to operate consistently with the highest set of standards and only the Tasmanian Liberals have a plan to deliver the real change that is necessary to focus our education system on results and retention, not experiments.” Mr. Hodgman said.

Under the provisions of the relevant Electoral Act responsibility for all election comment is assumed by Editor Victor P Taffa. The Registered office of The Southern Thunderer is at 4/69a Darvall Road, West Ryde NSW 2114.

Western Australia Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable

Call for more public schools to take on independent status

Victor P Taffa

The Western Australia State Government today called for more schools to become Independent Public Schools to build on the success of the initiative.

Education Minister Liz Constable said feedback from the 34 Independent Public Schools that began at the start of the year had been overwhelmingly positive and the schools had already experienced a surge in community involvement.

The Minister said schools that took on independent status – such as Roseworth Primary School in Girrawheen where today’s announcement was made – had the ability to attract high calibre community members to their boards.

“The school boards have greater responsibility and input into the strategic direction of their local school, participating in the selection of a principal and endorsing school business plans.” the Minister said.

“Board members contribute in an important way to the running of their school, helping to drive innovation and reflect the needs and wishes of the local community and bringing with them a diverse wealth of knowledge and expertise.”

Independent Public Schools, while remaining part of the public school system, have the ability to make decisions about their own curriculum, staffing selection, school assets and budgets.

The Minister invited interested schools and communities to consider expressing an interest to operate as an Independent Public School from 2011.

“This call for schools to join the second intake signifies the Government’s continuing drive to hand more control to schools and their communities.” the Minister said.

“The strong interest shown demonstrates the desire for moving decision-making, responsibility and accountability closer to where it matters – the classroom.”

Expressions of interest from schools keen to join the next intake of Independent Public Schools close on April 27, giving them more than two months to consult with their communities and submit an Expression of Interest.

They will then have a full semester to participate in the induction and transition program and prepare themselves to commence formal operation as an Independent Public School at the start of the 2011 school year.

Victoria Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan

ANOTHER BRUMBY BROKEN PROMISE AS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL RETENTION RATES SLUMP

Victor P Taffa

Labor’s failure to support high school students in regional and rural Victoria has sparked a slump in students staying in school until Year 12, Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Development and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan said today.

Research conducted by the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition reveals that under Labor, country high school retention rates – or the percentage of students remaining at high school until year 12 – have fallen from 72 % in 2002 to 67 % in 2009.

“While retention rates in metropolitan schools have remained steady at 85 %, retention rates have declined alarmingly in every Victorian country region since 2002.” Mr Ryan said.

“In 1998 John Brumby as Opposition Leader expressed concern about the school retention rate in country Victoria, stating:

“Surely one output by which a system can be judged is its provision of quality education and a high retention rate.”

“Given school retention rates in country Victoria have dropped in every region under Labor, the Premier by his own standards has failed regional students.” Mr. Ryan said.

“The Brumby Government is risking the future of regional Victoria by refusing to listen to families and properly resource regional education.”

“Regional high schools and country students do a magnificent job with the resources they have, but Labor has failed to support them.”

Mr Ryan said government high schools in the Barwon South West, the Grampians, Loddon Mallee, Hume and Gippsland regions had all struggled to keep their students at school under a Labor Government.

“When Labor came to power in 1999, Victoria’s education funding per person was the second highest of any state, but Victoria now spends the least on education per person of any state.” Mr Ryan said.

“John Brumby’s neglect has cost country students dearly with the dropout rate of students from regional high schools increasing over the past seven years.”

“John Brumby claims that education is his number one priority, but just like transport, law and order and other essential services, Labor is failing Victorian families on education.”

Student retention rates in Victorian schools

Source: Summary Statistics for Victorian Schools March 2009 and preceding editions

Western Australia Minister for Health Kim Hames 

Western Australia Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable 

Western Australia Minister for Community Services Robyn McSweeney

Life saving resources for Western Australian children

Victor P Taffa

Western Australian teachers and childcare service staff are set to receive world-class resources and training that could one day save the life of a child.

Resource kits and training will be introduced across the State to support all schools and childcare services to protect children suffering potentially deadly Anaphylaxis.

Health Minister Kim Hames said the resources would be released throughout WA helping to ensure staff knew what to do in the case of an emergency.

WA Minister for Health Kim Hames

 “WA children will have access to the most comprehensive and current Anaphylaxis resources available anywhere in Australia, which were among the best in the world.” Dr Hames said.

“This is a groundbreaking initiative which will for the first time provide clear guidelines and training for teachers, childcare service workers and parents on how to manage Anaphylaxis.”

Anaphylaxis is a sudden and severe allergic reaction that can be triggered by exposure to certain substances such as foods, medications and insect stings and bites, which impacts on the lives of many children in WA each year.

The kits would be distributed in February and include guidelines, adrenaline autoinjector training devices, and other publications and tools to manage anaphylaxis.

Free certified training to support the kits would be provided by community health nurses from Child and Adolescent Community Health and the WA Country Health Service, with specialist support from the Immunology Department at Princess Margaret Hospital, throughout the 2010 school year.

“The State Government wants to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis for all Western Australian children and this is an important step which could help save young lives.” Dr Hames said.

Education Minister Liz Constable said the resource kits and training would ensure that WA schools were safer places for children with severe allergies.

“WA is leading the way to help school staff manage and treat students with Anaphylaxis and parents should be reassured that we take this issue seriously and that preventative measures are in place.” Dr Constable said.

Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney said across Government collaboration had meant the new tools could assist many groups, and, most importantly, protect the well-being of children.

“These kits and training are the result of a successful Government and community partnership, and have been carefully developed to meet the needs of parents, children and childcare services staff.” Mrs. McSweeney said.

The initiative has been developed by the departments of Health, Education, Education Services and the Department for Communities in collaboration with Anaphylaxis Australia, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Catholic Education, the Association for Independent Schools, the Dieticians Association of Australia, parents and GP’s.

There has also been close consultation with experts at the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy.

In October 2007, the former government committed $6.6 Million across four years to implement the recommendations in the report:

‘Anaphylaxis: Meeting the Challenges for Western Australian Children’.

More information on Anaphylaxis Management can be found at http://www.health.wa.gov.au/anaphylaxis or by calling (08) 9222 2350.

WA Minister for Community Services Robyn McSweeney