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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1494 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

think Mr Berry can have it all his own way. Far from being propaganda, this school development report is, I believe, an accurate reflection of what our parents, our students, and our teachers and staff really think of our schools.

I am sorry if Mr Berry does not like some of the findings, particularly in the case of the overwhelming level of teacher satisfaction with the school system. I know that might not fit your ideology, Mr Berry, because in Wayne's World teachers are traditionally pitted against the system, and they certainly do not admit to being happy with their lot. And I am sorry, Mr Berry, if figures like those included in this report erode your arguments. But perhaps-just perhaps-Mr Berry, our teachers really are happy with the quality of education in our schools. They are happy, in fact, with the job that they are doing and the quality of education they are providing to our students, as indeed are our parents, as are our students, and as are our administrative staff.

Mr Corbell: Circulate a copy to the AEU and leave it at that.

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Corbell says, "Circulate a copy to the AEU." Ninety per cent of our teachers, Mr Corbell, are members of the AEU. And there is an overwhelming-

Members interjecting-

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Hird): Order! The minister will address the chair.

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Corbell interjects. I mentioned earlier that some 474 teachers responded to this report. I have gone through the figures. They responded overwhelmingly very positively. And that is something that members opposite might not appreciate; they might not like appreciating it. But at the end of the day, this is a report which went out to a wide range of people, a wide range of teachers, and those are the responses they actually gave.

Those opposite are completely out of touch with reality if they want to persist in questioning what I say. The questions were completed anonymously. They sum up the attitudes of the people who really matter-the parents, the students and the staff, rather than the political forces who try to influence public opinions about our schools one way or the other. I will say that again: these questionnaires were completed anonymously. We would not have a clue who put in what. We do not know how many teachers, how many students or how many parents responded. They are done anonymously.

In conclusion, the government was up front about the perceived negatives in this report. It is not just a feel-good document. It is lovely that we have had such a very good response and that it is so positive. But the important thing, too, is that there are areas for improvements, and I have highlighted them. The government and the department make no bones about them. They are things that we need to address, and that is why you do reports.

We acknowledge that this process was never intended to be a feel-good exercise for government. In many respects, this report is a warts and all summary of parental, staff and student attitudes. And we have committed the department to follow up on areas of concern. But for all that, the report represents an important step in delivering public

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