Page 2711 - Week 09 - Thursday, 9 August 1990
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is very important that members understand the significance of the government education system. That lack of understanding was demonstrated most clearly by Mr Stevenson's question a little earlier when he suggested that there may be some sense in some parents paying extra school fees.
The reality is that an equitable education system right across government and private schools provides the opportunity for social mobility. While providing that opportunity for social mobility, it concentrates on individuals. It means that individuals, no matter what the wealth or lack of wealth of their parents, have an opportunity to get a viable education, a valuable education, an education of the standard that will allow them to be on an equal footing with any other individual in the community. This benefit is not just a benefit to the individual but is, of course, a benefit to the community. When every individual is provided with the opportunity to fulfil their own destiny and to get the best out of what they can offer to the community, then we have the opportunity for the community to reap the benefits of that education.
One thing I will say about the ACT education system up to now is that the government education system has provided at least an equivalent, and in most cases I would argue a better, education than the private education system. But I accept that that is a debatable point. What the move by the Alliance Government does here is to residualise the public education system in the ACT. By residualising the public education system in the ACT we will see a lack of opportunity for individuals to reach their own potential. That is what this is about.
I am concentrating specifically, Mr Acting Speaker, on preschool education benefits. I have spoken previously in the house about the Parry preschool report and so I shall not repeat that. If somebody would like to look at that, by all means look back through Hansard when I spoke on preschools last year. Mr Humphries also spoke and fought so hard to protect preschools last year. I will go instead to a paper which talks about preschools and I quote:
The Special Features we wish to be retained and to be strengthened.
Firstly:
Positive parent/teacher relationships fostered for the benefit of children, through shared efforts to keep the pre-school in good working order, through personal contact, home visits, informal discussions, through newsletters, and monthly meetings.
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