Page 2669 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 25 August 1993
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MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, the premise on which Mr Cornwell bases his question is simply incorrect; it is simply not the case. The Institute of Technology does not propose to move to a system of ungraded competency based assessments for all its courses. On the contrary, the institute intends to retain a graded assessment system for the majority of courses, including its associate diploma courses. The policy acknowledges that individual students and the community as a whole require clear messages about the standards achieved by particular individuals in CIT courses. The institute thus recognises not only the need to foster excellence but also clearly to recognise excellence where it is achieved.
It must be acknowledged, however, that as part of the national system of vocational education and training the institute is introducing an increasing number of national courses which are wholly competency based and which require only a pass/fail form of assessment. One example of such a course is the national metal trades curriculum. In all such cases the institute undertakes further consultation with local industry representatives to ascertain whether the national course requires some amendment to include a more discriminating form of assessment of varying standards of achievement. An example of a national competency based course where the institute has negotiated this is the associate diploma in hospitality. Where local industry bodies are satisfied with an ungraded assessment system the institute will retain it to assess students enrolled in those national courses.
Lanyon High School
MR LAMONT: My question is directed to the Minister for Education. Minister, do you agree with claims that Lanyon High School, with up to 950 pupils, will be too large for effective management; and, if not, what are the processes that you would put in place to guide Lanyon and similar high schools in the ACT?
Mrs Carnell: Say yes or no.
MR WOOD: No. Madam Speaker, I do not agree that, at a peak enrolment of 950 students and with demountables, Lanyon High School will be too large for appropriate management and appropriate educational programs. I do not believe - I have said this many times - that the quality of a school depends on its enrolment, whether large or small; it depends on what happens in the school.
As to the second part of your question, there has been a long process leading from the high school development program into the more recent high school forum. This process is examining very closely the way that high schools operate and how we need to run them in the future. A whole range of issues is under scrutiny. As part of that there will be a plan of development for each high school. Obviously Lanyon High School will be part of that consideration, and the educational structure of Lanyon High School will be under very close scrutiny to see that, as for all our high schools, it provides the very best curriculum, course of programs and administration that we can provide.
Ms Follett: I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper, Madam Speaker.
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