[First filed: July 22, 2008 @ 08:54
Second filing: July 22, 2008 @ 17:50]
They might not actually have a policy about it but that hasn’t stopped the Canberra Liberals making a splash on the ABC and in the Canberra Times promising to cap primary school class sizes at 21 all the way through the primary education system.
The $24 million cost will be funded through “cuts in other areas”, a bad sign for someone.
Whether they can find another 150 teachers at current pay rates also remains to be seen.
Does 21 make that much different to 28 anyway? And is primary school where the most attention is needed?
More on this policy when it’s actually published.
UPDATED: The Chief Minister is having a classic blast at the Liberal policy, pointing to lack of funding, claiming the costing is dodgy, and generally putting in the boot.
Still no sign of the policy on the Canberra Liberals website. There is, however, a sexy big Z. I guess that’s more important.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Still no policy substance, but they did manage to put a lovely slick, simplistic, ad onto WIN News:
Further Update: 24 hours later and they’ve got their ad online and, hooray hooray, have finally published their policy. Key points include:
- extend the maximum of 21 students per class through all years of primary schools, extending the support given from K-3 right up to year 6 students.
- delivering training programs that are designed to assist teachers in working effectively with smaller classes.
- more than restore Labor’s cut to [teacher support] funding with a funding boost of $500,000 this financial year and real annual increases thereafter.
- restore the 35 high school teaching positions cut by the Stanhope Government in early 2007.
- create attractive pathways into teaching for mature age professionals who bring valuable skills from outside teaching.
- provide incentives for high quality graduates to join the ACT government schools system.
One more update for the road: A still incandescent Chief Minister is enraged by the lack of detail for such expensive proposals.