Page 5155 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
positions to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, you stated that “not everything is working at the moment”. Minister, how will cutting literacy and numeracy positions to help Indigenous students improve their performance in testing?
MR BARR: In isolation from all other initiatives funded in recent budgets and undertaken by the Department of Education and Training, the shadow minister might have a point, but he is in fact trying to take one element of a structural reform with the delivery of services from a central office to schools. He ignores all of the additional resources and the new strategy that is in place. The implication of his question is that it is impossible to achieve a more efficient delivery of services within the education department. I reject that utterly.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, a supplementary question?
MR DOSZPOT: Yes, Mr Speaker. Minister, have you done research into the efficacy of the current assistance program to Indigenous students? If not, why are you considering cuts to the program and why did you claim that the program is not working? If so, will you table it in the Assembly by the close of the sitting week?
MR BARR: If the shadow minister had been paying attention, he would be aware that we had launched a new strategy to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. I am happy to table that for the member’s benefit.
Mr Doszpot: No; I am asking for the research.
Mr Hanson: A supplementary question, Mr Speaker?
Mr Smyth: You know the difference, don’t you?
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, in place of the six literacy and numeracy positions, I understand that teacher resources will be placed directly at schools with significant enrolments of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. What about affected students not at these schools?
MR BARR: The department will continue to provide a full range of services to assist all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Hanson?
MR HANSON: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, how many Indigenous students will not receive assistance under the revised arrangements and what impact will this have on their performance in literacy and numeracy tests?
MR BARR: I repeat my answer to the previous question. The department will continue to provide a full range of services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video