Northern Territory Leader of the Opposition Terry Mills

A FOCUS ON EARLY EDUCATION

Victor P Taffa

A Country Liberal Government will conduct a significant overhaul of the Territory’s education system to give students the best possible chance of achieving results in line with their counterparts interstate.

Launching the next phase of the Country Liberal education reform programme, Opposition Leader Terry Mills said he would inject nearly $27 Million a year to improve education outcomes including a 5% improvement in reading and writing results in the first year of Government and a 15% improvement in NAPLAN outcomes in the first term.

The Way Forward – Early Education for a Strong Future will see the introduction of an Expert Panel on Literacy and Numeracy; literacy and numeracy tests for Year 1 students; after-school literacy and numeracy programs; additional class-room support for teachers; the introduction of multi-disciplinary behavioural management teams; more support for school councils and assistance for COGSO to access Government grants.

“The MySchool website shows all too clearly that the Territory education system needs change.” Mr Mills said.

“While the Chief Minister Paul Henderson and the Education Minister Chris Burns are satisfied that Territory students achieve minimum national benchmarks, the Country Liberals believe education outcomes should be in line with national averages and above.”

NAPLAN test results over the past two years showed Territory students were achieving literacy and numeracy results significantly below those of interstate students.

The 2009 NAPLAN tests showed 30% of year 3 students were below the national minimum standard in reading; 36% were below the national minimum standard in spelling and more than 28% were below the national minimum standard in numeracy.

“The Way Forward – Early Education for a Strong Future focuses on improving early education outcomes.

“Early education is the platform upon which the rest of a child’s education is based. The Country Liberals believe there is significant room for additional support for hard-working teachers as they lay the foundations for the rest of a student’s education.” Mr Mills said.

Within the first month in office, the Country Liberals will establish an Expert Panel on Literacy and Numeracy to undertake a comprehensive review of both disciplines in the Northern Territory and recommend on areas of improvement.

The Panel will examine barriers to student achievement in literacy and numeracy; investigate the effectiveness of current programs from Transition to Year 6; consider the level of Departmental support to schools and teachers and review access for teachers to professional development in literacy and numeracy.

The Country Liberals will also support schools to introduce literacy and numeracy diagnostic assessments of students during Year 1.

Students who fail to meet appropriate numeracy and literacy levels are less likely to attain satisfactory educational outcomes in the future. The testing of Year 1 students is designed to get students on the right track before they fall too far behind their peers.

Mr Mills said boosting teacher support and returning the focus of classroom learning to students will make the educational journey smoother for children in Territory schools.

“The Country Liberals will spend $10.5 Million a year recruiting classroom tutors to the education system to help teachers and students and to boost literacy and numeracy outcomes in the Territory.”

“The initiative will provide schools with additional funding so every primary classroom from Year 2 upwards will have a teacher assistant offering three-hours a day of one-on-one literacy and numeracy support to students struggling with the curriculum.

“The tutors will be recruited from within the community, including family members of students, trainee teachers, undergraduates and former teachers.”

Another initiative designed to support teachers and improve classroom behaviour is the introduction of multi-disciplinary behavioural management teams, headed by psychologists, to work with at-risk students and their families.

Mr Mills said “Too often, students with learning difficulties develop behavioural issues that have a negative impact on their school years – and beyond. The Country Liberals will recruit 20 specialist and appropriately qualified child mental health workers, headed by child psychologists and including behavioural therapists.”

“They will work with primary students identified with learning and behavioural difficulties in a bid to keep them within the educational mainstream and ensure they get the most out of their early education.”

In a further bid to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes, the Country Liberals will introduce an intensive after-school literacy and numeracy program.

School councils will have access of up to $250,000 to provide these programs for students in Years 2 to 6 identified as falling into the lowest literacy and numeracy band of their year level.

“These programs will be available to students who demonstrate consistent attendance at school and a genuine desire to achieve better outcomes.” Mr Mills said.

“School councils will have a degree of flexibility as to how they use the funding. They can select from options like home-based tutoring, homework centres or after school and holiday programs.”

School councillors will also be acknowledged for their service with a $1.5 Million contribution over 3 years – distributed through the Council of Government School Organisation (COGSO) – for annual training and development programs for current and future school council members.

“The community has a high expectation of our schools to deliver outcomes,” Mr Mills said.

It follows that the people who sit on school councils have the appropriate training in order to maximise their potential to contribute to a vibrant school community.”

The Country Liberals believe Territory schools are missing out on grants available from the Government and private sectors because they lack the resources to apply for the funding or are unaware of the availability of programs.

“In Government, we will boost resources for COGSO, who will then take the lead role in seeking and applying for grants on behalf of the schools.

“We will employ one additional worker each in COGSO’s Darwin and Alice Springs offices to take a lead role in organising tenders and engaging with the community to ensure all schools have equal access to available funding.”

Mr Mills said the policy was fully costed and would be regularly reviewed to ensure its target outcomes were being achieved.

Western Australia Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable

School bus fleet safety upgrade completed five years ahead of schedule

Victor P Taffa

Early completion of a $22 Million drive to replace the fleet of public school-owned buses without seatbelts has improved the safety of students.

Visiting Leeming Senior High School today, Western Australia Minister for Education Liz Constable said more than 150 school buses owned by the Department of Education had been replaced over the last few years with new buses fitted with seatbelts in time for the start of the school year.

Dr Constable said a commitment had been made in 2005 to fit all buses used to transport public school students with seatbelts by 2015. The Minister said today that the entire fleet of public school-owned buses was now compliant with the legislation, five years ahead of schedule.

“The Department of Education fast-tracked the program with the safety of students foremost in mind,” she said.

“Western Australia is the first State in the nation to make seatbelts mandatory for buses used to transport public school students.

“The new buses – some of which replaced vehicles that were up to 40 years old – were distributed to public schools around the State in time for the start of this school year.

“Parents can be assured that students using these buses will be transported in safety and comfort.”

76 new buses were provided to public schools in the metropolitan area, with 78 supplied to regional schools, agricultural colleges and residential student hostels. Buses are generally used to transport students for school activities such as excursions and camps.

School bus safety came into the spotlight in the aftermath of a serious crash in Baldivis in late 2005. The bus, owned by a private school in Mandurah, collided with a truck and the 27 students on board were saved by their seatbelts.

While Western Australia has learnt from past failures and installed seat belts on school buses the situation in New South Wales defies logic.

On the one hand the Nation’s most populous State rejects on a consistent basis the compulsory installation of seat belts on school buses and on the other hand the very same people also install 40 Km/h speed zones and cameras outside every New South Wales school and then maintain that the school zone cameras “Are not for revenue raising.”

How can the Western Australia Government protect its school students properly while the New South Wales Government does not?

Why wouldn’t the revenue generated from speed camera fines be allocated towards the installation of seat belts in New South Wales school buses?

South Australia Shadow Minister for Education David Pisoni

Will Foley cut education services to pay for wage increase?

Victor P Taffa

SA Treasurer Kevin Foley must assure South Australians the pay increase awarded to teachers – up to 21.3 % for school leaders – will not be financed by cuts to education services.

South Australia Shadow Education Minister David Pisoni said when teachers first entered into their wage negotiations two years ago Treasurer Foley told South Australians the state’s budget could not afford the 21 % increase teachers were asking for.

“South Australians trusted Kevin Foley when he told them his budget couldn’t afford to give teachers a 21 % pay rise,” Mr Pisoni said.

“Now that teachers will be receiving up to 21.3 % the Treasurer must guarantee he will not finance the wage increase by cutting educational services.

“The Rann Government’s inability to reach an agreement with teachers over the last two years has created great disharmony amongst teachers and parents.”

The New South Wales Teachers Federation has been waging a campaign against the NSW Labor Government on teacher’s rates of pay.

The NSW Government is similarly making claims of: “We can’t afford to pay teachers more” however when NSW Minister for Education Verity Firth stands for re-election in her marginal seat of Balmain in March 2011 there is no doubt as with the South Australian Minister for Education the money for teachers pay increases will suddenly be found.

Western Australia Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable

New era in Western Australian public education begins

Victor P Taffa

Western Australia Minister for Education Liz Constable today visited Highgate Primary School – one of the State’s 34 Independent Public Schools – to welcome students, parents and teachers to day one of a new era in public education in Western Australia.

The establishment of these Independent Public Schools would give greater control to schools while still providing the support and benefits of the public school system and was one of the State Government’s key election commitments.

“For the first time, principals, teachers and the wider school community will be empowered with greater responsibility to ensure students have the best possible learning opportunities and outcomes,” Dr Constable said.

“The IPS initiative will allow strong leadership to flourish in the public school system, but it will bring other benefits – it means greater responsibility for principals and flexibility in their recruitment of teachers and other school staff.

“I appreciate the willingness with which these schools have embarked upon this ground-breaking initiative and I am sure, as the program grows over the next few years, their pioneering role will be seen as crucial.”

The Minister said public schools started the 2010 school year with only 1.5 teacher vacancies.

“Almost 500 graduates will also begin work today which is similar to last year’s level at the same stage and I expect that many more graduates will be placed as the year progresses and vacancies become available,” Dr Constable said.

The 34 Independent Public Schools were selected by an independent panel from more than 100 schools which submitted expressions of interest. The Minister urged schools that were not selected to strengthen their bid for consideration in the next intake of Independent Public Schools.

“I congratulate the first group of Independent Public Schools, and I encourage other schools to contemplate joining this group as the second round of applications approaches,” Dr Constable said.

A full list of the Independent Public Schools can be found on the Department of Education website: http://www.det.wa.edu.au/

Western Australia Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable

My School data to be used to help ensure children get the assistance they need

Victor P Taffa

The publication of National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) data on the Federal Government’s My School website is one of a number of measures allowing schools and teachers to identify and help children get the assistance they need.

Western Australia Minister for Education Liz Constable said the NAPLAN data was useful for assessing success in improving the levels of literacy and numeracy among Western Australian school students, but was best used in conjunction with a range of assessment methods to form a wider picture of the effectiveness of numeracy and literacy programs.

“NAPLAN testing can help us measure schools’ success and identify those children who may need extra help but it is not the only measure of the effectiveness of numeracy and literacy programs in schools and should not be used to make simplistic comparisons between schools,” Dr Constable said.

“It is important that judgments about a school’s success in helping children to gain sound numeracy and literacy skills in the early years of learning are not based on any single criterion.

“Parents have the right to as much information as possible about their child’s progress, and the NAPLAN data published on the My School website provides them with part of the wider picture.

“Feedback from parents shows that they value this information, and teachers too can benefit from access to a wide range of information about the performance of their students so they can continue to meet their needs.”

The Minister said that NAPLAN data would be used along with other information to identify children whose performance showed they may need more attention and help to improve their literacy and numeracy.

“I am committed to raising the overall literacy and numeracy standards of WA school students across all sectors,” she said.

“My overriding aim is to see that those children who need help to improve their literacy and numeracy get that help and that teachers are equipped to provide it.”

Western Australia Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable

WA ahead of the game on literacy and numeracy assessment

Victor P Taffa

Western Australia Minister for Education Liz Constable said today that Western Australia had led the rest of the nation in assessing and publicising numeracy and literacy testing results in early childhood.

“I remain determined to raise the overall literacy and numeracy standards of WA school students across all education sectors,” Dr Constable said.

“This State has led the rest of the country through the Western Australian Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (WALNA), which was established to address the needs of children and emphasise the importance of establishing sound literacy and numeracy skills in the early years of schooling.

“This is not a new thing for teachers and students in WA – it has been the practice to make the results of WALNA tests available and these have been published on the Department of Education website since 2006.

“The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing – which replaces WALNA – is a useful tool to help us measure our success in improving the levels of literacy and numeracy among WA school students, but it is not the only measure.”

The Minister said testing was just one of a number of forms of assessment used in WA schools such as checklists, teacher observation, peer evaluation and self assessment.

“Teachers best meet children’s needs by using a variety of assessment methods so that the results from each particular method can be combined to form a wider picture of the effectiveness of our numeracy and literacy programs,” she said.

During the last year in support of NAPLAN, the State Government has developed a number of specific packages to help WA public school teachers and principals better prepare students for the NAPLAN literacy and numeracy tests, allowing students to perform at their optimum level.

“While these tools will help teachers and students prepare for NAPLAN testing, sustainable long-term improvement in the level of literacy and numeracy in WA requires systematic changes to the way this is taught in schools,” the Minister said.

“That is why in my time as Education Minister I have introduced a number of initiatives that provide assistance and resources to schools and educators in the teaching of literacy and numeracy – the building blocks of a good education.”

Western Australia Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable

Western Australia Minister for Agriculture Terry Redman

Student achievement data provides useful reference

Victor P Taffa

In a joint announcement Western Australia Minister for Education Minister Liz Constable and Minister for Agriculture Terry Redman today welcomed the publication of the Curriculum Council’s Year 12 student achievement data but said the results should not be the sole measure of whether a school met the needs of its students.

“The student achievement data published by the Curriculum Council is a useful source of information on the performance of schools in Western Australia and it is pleasing to see that more than 50 schools across the State achieved a graduation rate of 100 per cent,” Dr Constable said.

“However, the data should not be viewed in isolation, nor seen as the only tool to form a judgement about schools.

“The tables do provide some interesting data that combined with information about a school’s student support programs, achievements, facilities, and resources can help people make a decision on how a school meets the needs of its students.”

The Minister said she was particularly pleased to note the performance of country schools and agricultural colleges in this year’s tables.

“It is great to see high schools from Manjimup, Katanning, Busselton, Tom Price, Newman, and Bunbury – as well as the Denmark campus of the WA College of Agriculture – in the first 50 graduation schools,” she said.

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman also congratulated the Cunderdin, Harvey, Denmark, and Narrogin campuses of the WA College of Agriculture for their standing in the vocational education and training table.

“The WA College of Agriculture campuses have a proven record in producing industry standard training for students with 98 to 99 per cent of students going on to either employment or further education,” Mr Redman said.

“The colleges provide an excellent vocational focus together with strong secondary school graduation rates and have won national vocational awards as well as regularly performing well in the WA Curriculum Council’s rankings.

“Students at the Denmark, Harvey, Cunderdin and Narrogin colleges have won the Beazley Medal four times since 2003, including Cunderdin campus student Andrew Reynolds this year.

“Indeed, Cunderdin campus has twice won the highest award for vocational training in Australia no other school in Western Australia has won the award to date and no other school in Australia has won the award twice.”

The tables showing the full range of schools’ achievement data can be accessed on the Curriculum Council’s website at:

http://www.curriculum.wa.edu.au or by contacting the council on (08) 9273 6300.

The Beazley Medal is a great incentive for students in an increasingly demanding workforce.

WA Minister for Agriculture Terry Redman

Western Australia Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable

Most promising new teachers to be recognised in 2010 Education Awards

Victor P Taffa

Western Australia Minister for Education Liz Constable today announced that the most promising new teachers would be recognised with a new category in the 2010 Education Awards.

Dr Constable made the announcement at this year’s official welcome day for new Public school teachers.

“The WA Beginning Teacher of the Year award is designed to recognise new teachers who make a distinct personal contribution to improved student engagement, achievement or well-being,” she said.

“Six promising new teachers will be identified from across the State and will be provided the opportunity to extend their teaching expertise through professional learning to the value of $3,000.”

At the welcome day, the Minister congratulated the hundreds of new teachers present and stressed to them the important contribution they will make to the lives of students throughout their school years.

“Teachers play a vital role in providing the best possible education for Western Australian students and often they do more than educate they also inspire, entertain, motivate and support those they teach,” she said.

“I have been fortunate to meet some of the State’s best and brightest Public school students, and their success demonstrates the strength and quality of teaching in our Public schools.”

Dr Constable said teachers joining the profession this year were part of a new era as the State Government embarks on a new direction for public schools in 2010 with the establishment of 34 Independent Public Schools.

This is the first group of schools to have greater flexibility to make decisions to best meet the needs of their students and school communities.

“Giving greater autonomy to public schools was a key election commitment and this initiative is now on its way to helping shape Public education in WA,” the Minister said.

Everyone in life has talents that should not be squandered. Teachers have a unique opportunity to shape the future of our young and no matter what field or occupation a student wishes to take the role of the teacher should bring out the potential in their students. Similarly teacher incentive awards are an important part in producing that result.

WA Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable

Victor P Taffa

Beazley Medals recognise the best of the best

Western Australia Minister for Education Elizabeth Constable today announced the Beazley Medals for the best academic results and the best vocational education and training results.

Education Minister Liz Constable announced that Hayley Anderson from Churchlands Senior High School would receive the Beazley Medal (TEE) and Andrew Reynolds from Western Australian College of Agriculture in Cunderdin would receive the Beazley Medal (VET).

More than 750 students would also receive other awards – such as General Exhibitions, Special Course Awards, and Certificates of Distinction and Excellence from the Curriculum Council.

Meeting with the Beazley Medal winners and their families in Perth today, Dr Constable said all 2009 Curriculum Council Award winners, their families and schools should be very proud of their achievement.

“The Beazley Medals recognise the best of the best and I congratulate Hayley Anderson, Andrew Reynolds and all award winners today,” she said.

“Thanks to their hard work, our award winners are particularly well placed to take advantage of the countless opportunities for further education, training and career development in WA.

“Every student who has won an award is to be congratulated as competition for the medals this year was particularly fierce.

“More than 11,700 students sat for four or more examinations in 2009, compared with about 11,000 the previous year.”

The Minister was also confident that challenging and exciting opportunities would be available to all students who had completed their senior secondary courses.

Victor P Taffa

Over the last few years an organisation called the Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA) led by its very able Executive Director, Mrs. Kerry Jones has been taking Parliament to the schools so as to provide the leaders of tomorrow with the knowledge of the workings of our parliamentary system of Government.

The need for this education evolved out of the 1999 constitutional referenda that overwhelmingly rejected the NO vote on whether or not Australia should become a republic.

Former Lord Mayor & St Patrick's Old Boy Doug Sutherland

The latest in a series of programmes through the schools was at St. Patrick’s College, Strathfield of which students of year 6 participate. Proceedings were commenced by St. Patrick’s Old Boy and former Lord Mayor of Sydney Doug Sutherland AM JP. Mr. Sutherland matriculated in 1949 and served as Lord Mayor from 1980-87. Doug Sutherland is also the school’s CEFA programme mentor.

Mrs. Kerry Jones performed the role of ‘Governor-General’ and outlined the importance of the CEFA programme through the schools. The school Parliament opened following the conduct of a closely fought election in which the Earth Party defeated the Workers Party.

All school students cast a vote and each voted counted in a tight election result. Mrs. Jones opened the ‘Parliament’ and highlighted the historical significance of the dispatch boxes that has dated back to the time of King George VI. Mrs. Jones and Mr. Sutherland told students about Mace that sits in the middle of as a symbol of a neutral umpire. The Sergeant-at-Arms bears the Mace.

CEFA Executive Director Kerry Jones opens the St Patrick's College Strathfield School Parliament

Unlike the republican model in the United States Australia is governed by the Westminster system and Ministers are elected and not appointed by a President. The role of Speaker was performed by the Headmaster of the Junior School Jim Walters who called each Minister to the dispatch box.

Among the Ministers that followed the Prime Minister, was the Deputy Prime Minister & Treasurer and Ministers for Sport, Education, Health, Technology, Arts, Peace and the Environment.

In the words of the Prime Minister the Government wanted to “Make things easy and make things happen” for the people who elected him. The Prime Minister presented the Ministers and Bills followed by the Deputy Prime Minister & Treasurer who wanted to maintain services.

Other Government priorities were as follows:

• Sports Minister is to improve sports at the school.
• Education Minister moves to increase scholarships at the school.
• Health Minister will improve the school tuckshop menu.
• Technology Minister seeks to have laptops for all students in years 10-12.
• Arts Minister addresses the need to improve resources and arts rooms.
• Peace Minister is to introduce a “bully-free zone.”
• Environment Minister wants solar power in schools.

As with any robust Parliamentary sitting the Opposition rose to speak and challenged the legitimacy of the Government’s claims. The Government counter claimed with arguments designed to outmanoeuvre its opponents. Speaker Jim Walters was able to maintain control of proceedings as the students engaged in some lively banter.

In a challenging and interesting departure from the normal studies of English and Mathematics if the school Parliament is anything to go by the future of our democracy is in good hands as all the students returned to their classrooms having participated in a simulated session of Parliamentary proceedings that will hold all of us in good stead.

St. Patrick's College Strathfield