Page 4621 - Week 12 - Thursday, 15 October 2009
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programs which take into consideration the factors impacting these students is vital for better engagement with the school system.
It is not just about the immediate school environment, as the Greens believe a responsive and relevant education system is underpinned by community involvement and recognises that parents and guardians play a critical role in the education of their children. Part of this centres on encouraging innovative teaching and curriculum development through engagement with the community sector. Adequate resources and teachers for students with special needs and training and staff to assist with those students must be high on the government’s agenda.
Teachers form a vital part of advancing education in the ACT and we must ensure that teacher recruitment, retention, pay scales and ongoing quality professional development opportunities are all addressed and are satisfactory. The importance of the teacher’s role must be recognised so that we are able to retain our existing resources and also encourage committed and capable people into the teaching profession and for them to stay in the teaching profession. The ACT Greens believe it is the responsibility of government to ensure the provision of high-quality, well-resourced and safe learning environments that are open to all students.
Ms Porter in her matter of public importance covered a number of areas in which the government is advancing education in the ACT, and that is noted. However, there is still much to do if we are to provide the advanced education that encompasses the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes to assist students’ progress and make informed decisions about study, work and life.
We look forward to considering new education policy put forward in the Assembly and reviewing current programs so that the ACT Greens assist in that process of ensuring that we can continue to improve education delivery here in the ACT.
I would like to highlight the importance of this inquiry. I hope that more organisations do get involved. Certainly, the P&C council, ACTCOSS—the ACT Council of Social Service—and, as I said, the Youth Coalition are just some of the organisations who have already put in submissions. I certainly look forward to reading those submissions because education is such an important thing. A good education gives everybody a very good start to life. I am sure that all members would agree that what we want here in the ACT is a first-class education system that is accessible for all.
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (5.08): I thank Ms Porter for bringing us this MPI today. In light of recent debates, I can understand the need that the government has to engage in the intricate art of spin that, to his shame, Andrew Barr has developed to such new heights. I just hope that all the government ministers, particularly Minister Barr, will listen to their own propaganda and come to realise at some stage—and apparently eight years has not been long enough for the penny to drop—that substance and integrity are also important in developing and delivering policies that advance their various portfolio initiatives.
The matter of integrity is perhaps best exemplified by the most recent spin that was once again put out, and I can only assume it was from Minister Barr or his office, that resulted in the Canberra Times editorial on Wednesday that stated that the Legislative
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