Page 1671 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 18 May 1994
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The incorporation of national curriculum frameworks, the widespread trialling of student profiles, and the work on key competencies are but three examples of our commitment to improvement. The recommendations cover a lot of territory. They are about making schooling more student-oriented and more flexible. They emphasise students' specific learning outcomes and their social and personal growth. They touch on relationships with other government agencies. They propose some structural change in the way schools are organised, to promote flexibility and increase the focus on student development. The report discusses the establishment of early childhood centres for young children. It also discusses the concept of middle schools, focusing on the needs of young adolescents. The report examines the issue of vocational education and training in the post-compulsory years.
I am pleased to receive this report and to note its recommendations. I am particularly interested in the council's comments on literacy and numeracy and the importance the council has attached to early childhood services. I note also that there are two minority reports. It is unfortunate that three members were unable to agree to the majority report after so much time and effort had been put into it by all members of the council. Their comments, however, will be considered along with the majority report. Indeed, their comments begin the considerable debate that will now flow from this report. This report canvasses a number of options which will no doubt engender lively public debate. I hope so. Our community has never been backward in debating education issues, and our schooling system is much richer for that debate.
While I have received the report, I must emphasise that it has not yet been considered by Government and is not Government policy. There are also some aspects of the report which impinge on other ministerial portfolios, and I shall refer these to the relevant Minister for consultation and advice. Nevertheless, it is clear that the broad thrust of this report has much to commend it. It provides a broad platform for future planning and warrants serious consideration by the Government and the community. The advice of MACPE, together with its consultative process, represents the culmination of the first stage in the development of our next strategic education plan for government schooling. I have now requested my department to prepare a draft plan, taking into consideration the broad directions of the advisory council report. The draft plan will be circulated for wide community consultation in the latter half of the year, with the final strategic education plan released before the beginning of 1995.
I have had pleasure in tabling the first report of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Public Education. In doing so, I would like to reiterate my thanks to Ms Di Mildern, chairperson of the advisory council, and to all its members, who have given so generously of their time and energy in its compilation.
Debate (on motion by Mr Cornwell) adjourned.
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