Today’s Canberra Times story, found here, tells us all something that we already knew.
Whilst in a meeting last year, when I was working in DECS, there was talk of possible law suits arising from the closure of GDHS – such as the BS consultation process after the announcement was made to close it.
What the gummit should be looking at is why Govt students numbers are low across the ACT as opposed to closing schools at will. What will happen to the schools? Will it be like Hackett Primary and stay vacant for several years before being utilised by the independent school sector? Or will the land be sold off for development – which (in the article) is stated re: Latham PS and Melba HS. Will the money obtained from the sale of land etc be funnelled back into the Education sector? (I highly doubt it)
If the new “super school” is to open in 2009, where in the hell will they get the staff for it? Remember that 55%+ of current ACT teachers (and those poached from NSW etc) will be either retired or about to retire. There aren’t enough graduates coming through and there are teachers leaving the system for other reasons – which I won’t go into as it will be MAJORLY OT.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if the new school is espoused as a “middle school”. However, the flaw with that is that there isn’t a curriculum document (either current or the new one to come out in 2008) which reflects that area. The latest Middle Schooling document (see www.decs.act.gov.au – policies) gives no indication of what indicators etc are to be used.
Ok, I am off my soapbox now……
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