30 May 2013

Signing on the dotted line for Gonski

| johnboy
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If jurisdictions which have neglected their education systems are the big winners in the Gonski reforms one has to wonder at the ACT’s haste to sign up after a decade of Labor rule.

Andrew Barr is letting us know he’s gone and signed us all up to the National Education Reform Agreement:

The agreement incorporates the National Plan for School Improvement, which will see the two Governments work together to achieve:

• Continued improvement in teacher quality, through ensuring all ACT teachers are registered using the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers;
• Full delivery of the world class Australian Curriculum in all ACT schools;
• More power for local school leaders through supporting principals to better monitor achievement and track progress to inform publicly available plans for school improvement;
• Flexible learning options that recognise the different learning styles and needs of students, particularly those students at risk of being or already disengaged from school;
• Implementation of the Disability Standards for Education to provide reasonable adjustments for students with a disability to access the curriculum;
• Greater access to quality language programs, including priority Asian languages.

As part of the National Plan, both Governments will also adopt consistent needs-based funding arrangements, with the Gillard Government moving to legislate its funding commitments over coming weeks.

UPDATE: Chief Minister Gallagher’s take on it is also available.

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I dare say that the ACT Government’s haste to sign up is directly related to the fact that most of the features of the offered package are already highlighted goals of ACTDET – many which have already been engaged upon for a couple of years… you cannot argue against something that “ticks the boxes” against goals you have identified… Also – it is hard to negotiate with a Government that declares there are no other options…

The left wing teachers’ union supports it so I’m against it. Hopefully Tony will scrap it altogether once the post-Labor cleansing begins.

HiddenDragon said :

I assume this means that, contrary to some reports, ACT schools will be getting more federal funds than would otherwise have been the case(?)

A little bit of maths suggests an extra ~4%.

HiddenDragon2:22 pm 30 May 13

I assume this means that, contrary to some reports, ACT schools will be getting more federal funds than would otherwise have been the case(?)

They should put Peter Garrett in charge of this one!

Hopefull it includes educating kids not to throw sandwiches at people.

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