Page 3223 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 18 October 2006
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why it might be that applications for enrolments to year 7 at Melba high are not as strong as they were last year. It may be that an unintended consequence of the broader debate on public education is that there has been some concern in that region, but it is certainly not something that is occurring across the territory. In fact, those figures show an increase in applications for year 7 and year 11 across the territory.
There is a variety of reasons. These figures bounce around from school to school and from year to year. But the trend—certainly the difference from 2006 figures to 2007 figures—across the territory is an increase in interest in public education. I think that runs contrary to an argument that was being put forward by Mrs Dunne and others around budget time that in fact there would be a mass exodus from public education. That certainly has not occurred.
As I say, there is a range of factors. Mrs Dunne could equally have asked why schools like Telopea, Lyneham and others have received massive increases in interest. There is a variety of factors at play. The quality of our public education system across the territory is an important factor. It is something the government is seeking to address in its reform proposals to ensure that, no matter where you are in the ACT, you can attend a high-quality government school. That is a clear objective the government has as part of this reform process. I am sure that at the conclusion of the consultation round, once all the community feedback has been received and the government is in a position to make decisions about the future of our public education system on a region-by-region basis, we will see stronger outcomes for all of our schools.
MRS DUNNE: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. In another area, minister, can you account for the substantial decrease in enrolment applications for Canberra College?
MR BARR: Indeed, there are no proposed changes for Canberra College. But again, in the college sector we have seen an increase in interest in applicants. It may be that Narrabundah College is drawing students in the southern half of Canberra away from Canberra College. I am certainly aware that both of the Tuggeranong colleges are very near capacity. There is very strong interest on the south side of Canberra.
What is perhaps disappointing is that on the north side it is clear we have one too many colleges to provide the full educational programs. Colleges were set up and designed to run the full college program with an enrolment of between about 800 and 1,000 students—that is the right size. We see that across the majority of colleges in the ACT, but not all.
I am happy to do some further investigation in relation to Canberra College. I am certainly aware that that college will be benefiting from some upgrades as part of the government’s 2020 package in terms of investment. I know from speaking with both the principal and the deputy principal of Canberra College that they have some terrific ideas around how to use that money to strengthen that education facility. I certainly look forward to working with them over the next two years to ensure that the money available through the government’s 2020 program is put to fantastic use to make Canberra College an even better education facility.
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