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Consistent with our commitment to involving the community, we will be working closely with relevant stakeholders, in particular teachers and parents. I have asked my department to ensure that there is full consultation. I will also be holding discussions with appropriate representative organisations. The consultations will focus on two important issues: The impact of new arrangements on schools and teachers, and ensuring that new arrangements are helpful to parents in providing information on student progress. I expect that this system will be fully operational in the primary sector for English literacy and numeracy by the end of the 1997 school year.

My department is re-examining how it monitors school progress from preschool through to Year 12 to ensure that a sharper focus is paid to this important area. Mr Berry and Ms McRae obviously were never taught to be quiet in school; they are just jabbering away during my speech.

Mr Berry: No. We want you to get to some of your promises.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Speaker, the third area that I want to refer to relates to the role of physical education and sport in our schools.

Mr Berry: We have a contract on free school buses; there was a press release.

MR STEFANIAK: That is side two of the tape, is it? The Government has already indicated, Mr Speaker, that it will give increased priority to physical and sport education in schools. This is an area that was sadly neglected by the previous Government. There is increasing recognition of the importance of living an active and healthy life and making informed and responsible decisions. Participation in quality health and physical education programs gives students the knowledge and practical skills to meet these needs. The link between physical activity and intellectual and social development is well established. People who are fit and feel good about themselves perform better and achieve greater success in life.

I have established a four-person physical education and sports unit within the ACT Department of Education and Training as part of this commitment. The unit will enable those people responsible for the delivery of programs and provision of support in the areas of PE, sport and health to work more cohesively in pursuit of achieving our objectives in this area. Currently, all high schools and colleges have access to trained physical education teachers to deliver their programs. Throughout 1995 the Government will increase the physical education and sporting programs and activities in primary schools. Funds are being provided for training to enhance the skills of primary teachers to develop and implement quality health and physical education programs. Primary schools will be required to identify teachers to take responsibility for the coordination and delivery of physical education programs. During our term we will also seek to increase sport- and PE-related activities in high schools. I am particularly keen to see greater participation at the high school level in both inter- and intra-school sport.

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