Page 4138 - Week 13 - Thursday, 25 November 1993
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Proposed expenditure - Division 190 - Public Works and Services, $137,089,300 - agreed to.
Proposed expenditure - Division 200 - Corporate Development for the Department of Urban Services, $8,919,500 - agreed to.
Proposed expenditure - Division 210 - Government Corporate Services, $53,390,800 - agreed to.
Department of Education and Training
Proposed expenditure - Division 220 - Canberra Institute of Technology, $61,103,700 - agreed to.
Proposed expenditure - Division 230 - Government Schooling, $203,569,100
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for the Arts and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (11.15): Madam Speaker, acting from the central point that our Commonwealth funding will continue to shrink, I have not accepted the literally unbelievable argument that we can continue spending as much as ever on education. Instead of merely accepting the situation, we should find new, affordable ways of delivering relevant learning and training to our students. We are already building on the foundation of a very successful education system. The Auditor-General's report has some very good news about the effectiveness of our school system. One instance is the great success enjoyed by graduates of ACT government school systems in gaining entrance to universities. Over the last few years the ACT has been either first or in the top two or three States in the percentage of offers to enter tertiary institutions. This is a great record.
The Auditor-General's report indicated that our secondary colleges were well organised and well run, with staff, parents and teachers well satisfied with the management and leadership of the colleges as well as the curriculum and the work done by teachers. The report indicated that our high schools are well organised, with innovative approaches to learning evident, as well as a deep concern for students' overall welfare. The management of our primary schools was also praised, with the observation that primary schools were characterised by a very positive school climate where staff, students and parents work together to build a real community spirit. The Auditor-General's report said that our primary schools were busy, vibrant places where the emphasis was on a learning community which endeavoured to care for the individual child and ensure that his or her potential was reached. This is the sort of education system we have and will maintain.
The ACT has a high-quality, very well-resourced government school system. We recruit highly qualified, four-year trained graduates as our teachers. We have a fine stock of school buildings set in excellent spacious grounds. The schools have developed high-quality, comprehensive curriculums. The Department of Education and Training will continue to work on improving the curriculum of our schools. Under the budget the ACT will continue to be at least five years ahead of any other State or Territory in using the best of the national work in curriculum frameworks in eight key learning areas.
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