Page 1121 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 3 May 2006
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MR BARR: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I note from the media release that I have here from the then opposition spokesperson on education—
Mr Hargreaves: Who was?
MR BARR: Mr Pratt. “Schools may have to merge” was the title of the media release. I quote:
The Liberal Opposition has today agreed with the Government that some Canberra schools may have to merge due to declining enrolments …
The media release goes on to say:
In some of our older areas there are clusters of schools … that may become obsolete over time.
It names Lyons, Curtin and Chifley. It goes on:
Some of these schools may have to merge to ensure the best possible expenditure of the education dollar.
It is expensive to operate a school and if it can be merged with another school that is not at capacity and without forcing class sizes to swell, this may be necessary in terms of funding, teacher numbers and the best possible student outcomes …
Mr Speaker, the question is: has the Liberal Party changed the position it took to the election? I have seen Mr Seselja pictured on the front page of the Chronicle as seeking—
Mr Pratt: You know how it goes—old dog, new dog.
MR BARR: I think the question is: which faction of the Liberal Party supports which position? Is it in fact the position of the Mulcahy group now?
Mr Hargreaves: Or the Stefaniak group.
MR BARR: Or the Stefaniak group. What is the Liberal Party’s position? As education minister, I have said both in my inaugural speech and in the media that it is inevitable that some schools will have to close. We have an ageing population. We have fewer schoolchildren and, as the city grows and our neighbourhoods change, we will need to restructure our services to suit those needs. However, I have said, and I stand by it, that any school closures will be done in consultation, will meet all the requirements of the Education Act and will be done on the basis of determining good educational outcomes. That is what we need across our eduction system.
The expense that is incurred in educating students in small schools is too great. The average cost in a primary school with fewer than 100 enrolments is $18,000 per year. In a fully utilised primary school that cost is $8,000 per year. We also have to question the educational benefits. Is there a loss in education and the quality of education in some smaller schools? There is no ideal size for a school. There is no doubt that some schools
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