Page 1964 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 May 2009
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students who do not complete high school. What plans are there if the majority of these students now go on to complete high school? What career pathways would be now available to them? Would they all go to university? Would universities have the capacity to absorb the sudden increase?
Taking overseas examples into consideration puts a different light on this problem. The career and technical education model followed overseas actually uses the last three years of secondary school to prepare students for their future career options. So, going back to my earlier question, what curriculum changes are we considering to cope with the proposed changes and the announcement of a compact with young Australians to give young people an entitlement to an education or training place?
I have no doubt about the good intentions of the agreement of the Council of Australian Governments to immediate, concerted action to increase young people’s engagement with education and training pathways. However, I do have some concerns about the ACT planning that has gone into this implementation and the impact on curriculum and the number of teachers required as well as on administration and infrastructure.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Planning and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (11.56): I commend Ms Burch for bringing this important motion before the Assembly this morning. It goes to highlight a very important issue for our local and our national economies and it does provide the opportunity for me to restate some clear commitments on behalf of the Labor government and the Labor Party, because Labor has always been the party of education, the party of jobs and the party of economic responsibility. The work of federal Labor since its election in 2007 and the work of this ACT Labor government since 2001 proves this.
An investment in the education of a young Canberran is an investment in their quality of life and provides the key to a productive and happy life for the individual. It is an investment that ensures local businesses prosper and creates jobs by ensuring that our community has the skilled workers that it requires. This is especially important as Australia and the ACT work their way through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Education is important to keep our economy strong now. It is important to ensure our community, businesses and Canberra workers are able to make the most of the new opportunities the recovery will present when it comes. Lifelong learning is an investment in our environment and our economy, because through this investment we develop new skills in green collar jobs that will help us lighten our footprint on the planet.
For nearly 12 years the federal Liberals and the local Liberals neglected education and training, except for when it was useful as a political football. I must say that it is great to be able to work with a federal Labor government that sees education as an investment. The work that is occurring at the national level is extremely positive. It is about preparing Australia for the future, and it is work that complements what the ACT has been doing in education and training for some time.
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