Page 847 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
northern Tuggeranong in 2011. This investment shows that the management of public education is in good hands under this government, a government that has actually done some strategic thinking about education for the future of the territory and the future of our young people.
The early childhood schools are fine examples of proactive policies that this government has brought to education since 2001. Rather than continue to do what was always done, we looked to the research. We went to the community with ideas and then committed funds to establish four new early childhood schools at Southern Cross, Lyons, Isabella Plains and Narrabundah. These new schools ensure that we can offer this specialised form of education across all areas of Canberra. The focus will be on quality learning, student wellbeing and family participation in a purpose-built environment.
Services will vary from site to site and will incorporate the functions of a number of government and community agencies, including education, child care, health, parenting, early intervention and preschool programs. The schools will also have links to the University of Canberra and the CIT early childhood courses. These early childhood courses are building on the success of the O’Connor cooperative school but are offering more. The community is embracing these schools; the enrolments at preschools are evidence of that. I look forward to watching them grow in the future.
Our early childhood focus in education is not just at these four schools; this year all preschools have joined with their local primary school to provide smoother transitions in early years of schooling. As part of the government’s commitment to early childhood education, all preschools amalgamated with a primary school at the start of 2008. These amalgamations improve the continuing learning for young children and provide strong pathways for children.
There is already evidence that the government’s early childhood policies are working, with this year’s preschool enrolments increasing by 6.6 per cent over the last year. Those opposite have argued that the increase can be put down to increased fertility, but this fails to recognise that preschool enrolment is not mandatory and the increase is above and beyond any increase in three and four-year-old children.
The Melba-Copland secondary school is an example of the government’s forward thinking policies. Under the concept, the Melba high school and Copland college have amalgamated to form a twin campus with one administrative structure. The Melba campus provides outstanding teaching and learning for years 7 to 10 students, and the Copland campus provides years 11 and 12 college-learning environments, as students move towards gaining an ACT year 12 certificate and a university admissions index.
Melba-Copland secondary school offers a diploma program of the world renowned international baccalaureate program. This program provides our students with access to international curriculum for the world of today. The new structure is already receiving an excellent response, with the principal, staff and students indicating that they are delighted with the program and, since the decision, enrolments at the two schools have increased.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .