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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 3 Hansard (28 March) . . Page.. 888 ..

And, of course, many schools are acquiring information technology through the efforts of their community and sponsorship.

Mr Speaker, the Government acknowledges that the issue of voluntary parent contributions is a sensitive and complex matter. The government will ensure that the department provides assistance to schools on communicating with parents. School boards will be required to give clear and consistent messages to parents on the policy and the uses made of voluntary contributions.

In light of the committee's findings I have asked the department to review arrangements for communicating and negotiating with schools on resourcing issues. This review will be conducted in consultation with school communities. A review of the qualification criteria for Commonwealth disadvantaged schools funds will also be undertaken.

Finally, we will continue to encourage parents to make the contributions if they have the capacity to do so. Schooling functions as a partnership between parents, communities and schools - and the contributions (both financial and otherwise) made by parents is a very important part of this partnership.

In saying this, I am also mindful that schools must continue to monitor the overall cost to parents of extra curricula activities such as excursions and formals to ensure demands are kept to a minimum.

Mr Speaker, my thanks again to the committee for its report. I commend to the Assembly the Government's response to the Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts into Voluntary Parent Contribution scheme in the Australian Capital Territory.

ends

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