Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .
Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (8 March) . . Page.. 692 ..
MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I am absolutely confident that the people will be paid for the work performed.
MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Education. Will the Minister confirm that Stromlo High School, due to the Government's system of school-based management and reduced enrolments, has been forced to effectively close the award-winning boys' off-line program that has operated for 18 years?
MR STEFANIAK: I thank the member for the question. He says, "effectively close the award-winning program". The program, unfortunately by necessity, does have to change because the teacher who has done it, and has done it very effectively and has won an award, as has his colleague who runs the unchanged girls program, has now resigned from the service. Ms Tucker laughs. Unfortunately, in relation to this, Mr Corbell, the teacher concerned wanted a guarantee that the program would run in an unaltered form for five to 10 years, as I am advised. The principal certainly could not give that guarantee, and nor should she, Mr Corbell, because that school and a number of others are to be reviewed this year, I understand, as part of the normal school review process, and all the programs are to be reviewed. I think that was quite an unreasonable request.
I can understand why the particular person concerned made that decision. I understand it had to do with their entitlements as to whether they left now in terms of superannuation, which would not be quite as good until about, I think, seven years down the track. In terms of what would be best for that individual, I can understand why that person was concerned to see what would be the best situation. However, in terms of insisting on a guarantee of five to 10 years of no change in the program, I do not think that was realistic in terms of the school. Accordingly, the principal was not able to give that guarantee.
As you are well aware, Mr Corbell, the school has had a number of meetings over the last few weeks in an effort to resolve the situation. The school board and principal, I am advised, have indicated that the off-line program will continue. They indicated that it would continue and wanted the teacher to do two lines, I think, of other teaching as well. That was also unsuitable and the resignation took effect, I am advised, at the end of last month, which was some time last week. So, at present, the program certainly is different because of that fact. The teacher did a unique program and had his own unique style. However, to say that effectively the program is to be closed is quite wrong. It is terribly important, Mr Corbell, that the off-line program continue.
Mr Corbell: It is closed, is it not, Minister? It is closed. It is not there any more. It does not exist any more, does it?
MR STEFANIAK
: Obviously, Mr Corbell, the teacher concerned is no longer there, so the program he ran personally certainly does not exist now; but the school has every intention of running an off-line program for boys, and I think that is essential. In fact, Mr Corbell, since the program started some 18 years ago there have been considerable changes and considerable additions to programs like the off-line program for students.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .