Page 1654 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 1 April 2009
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minister advise the Assembly how the ACT Labor government’s ongoing investment in, and reform of, the ACT education system has been reflected in the 2009 ACT school census?
MR BARR: I thank Ms Burch for the question and for her interest.
Good government is about taking hard decisions for the long term. In education this government has made record investments and we have made difficult reforms. These reforms have worked. I am very pleased to report to the Assembly that ACT public schools have recorded a record growth in the number of enrolments for the first time in a decade.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR BARR: That is for the first time in a decade, Mr Speaker. The 2009 ACT school census reveals that, after 10 years of consecutive reductions stretching back to the neglect of the public education system by the previous government, we have seen the number of students in ACT public schools increase to 38,280. This increase in enrolments shows that ACT Labor’s record of investing in public education is paying dividends. This is a direct result of the actions that this government took back in 2006 to invest $350 million in upgrading every public school and building new, state-of-the-art schools where they most needed.
The enrolment at the Kingsford Smith school is a good example of the impact that Labor’s record investment in public education is having. The new Kingsford Smith school has recorded higher enrolment than the combined total of the former Holt and Higgins schools. Kingsford Smith has a school population of 751, from preschool to year 7. Of these, 625 are in the years from preschool to year 6. That compares with 442 in P-6 components at Holt and Higgins combined last year.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR BARR: This strong enrolment in Kingsford Smith shows that parents understand how important top-class facilities are to a student’s education. It also shows that parents, carers and students understand how important it was for this government to take hard decisions in 2006. Whilst on the subject of Kingsford Smith, I want to congratulate the school’s principal, Mr Richard Powell—
Opposition members interjecting—
Mr Corbell: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. The opposition have continually interjected throughout the whole duration of Mr Barr’s answer to date. I would ask you to call them to order.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Corbell. You have just beaten me to it. Members of the opposition, the minister is giving factual information. You may care to listen.
MR BARR: Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the principal of Kingsford Smith school,
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