Page 76 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Parents, too, acknowledge the quality of our education provision. In 2010 a survey of parents of students with a disability showed 90 per cent indicated satisfaction with their child’s progress.
Whilst we perform well in the area of disability education, we must always strive to do better. The outcome of the Assembly inquiry and, before it, the review of special education in ACT schools has provided a wealth of evidence that will allow us to more effectively build on and improve our current services. The inquiry conducted by the standing committee resulted from a commitment given by the government as part of its agreement with the Greens party. The inquiry overlapped with the review of special education in ACT schools, or the Shaddock review, as it has come to be known.
I am pleased to inform the Assembly that significant work has already been undertaken around the findings, recommendations and options of these two significant
pieces of work. One specific outcome of the Shaddock review has been the development of the excellence in disability education in ACT public schools strategic plan 2010-13. This was a central recommendation of the review. The strategic plan was launched in September last year after significant collaboration with stakeholders, and work on implementation is already well underway.
The plan picks up on the key findings of the Shaddock review, and although released prior to the Assembly’s inquiry, it addresses many of the issues raised by the committee. Indeed, at the time the department launched its plan, the Catholic Education Office launched the disability education strategic plan 2010-14—equity, diversity and inclusion in Catholic education. This is a high watermark in cross-sectoral collaboration to support all Canberra students who have a disability.
In relation to the 30 recommendations made by the committee, the government agrees with 18, agrees in part to four, notes seven and disagrees with just one. The government agrees or agrees in part with recommendations that relate to strengthened liaison between education sectors, individual learning plans, student outcomes, a review of the ACT Discrimination Act, the definition of disability, funding costs, costs of service delivery and the appraisal of need process, coordination of information sources, inclusive technology and transport assistance, post-school options and planning, including vocational education pathways and maximising the use of learning support assistance.
The government does not agree with the recommendation that seeks assurance that the formula used to determine funding for post-school options be based on the number of students graduating each year. This is because the funding provided to each student graduating from high school is based on the needs of the individual, not on a formula.
I am pleased to advise the Assembly that many of the recommendations either have been or are in the process of being delivered through the implementation of our excellence in disability education strategic plan. In particular, I would like to draw to the attention of the Assembly the establishment of a cross-sectoral disability education steering group, comprising representatives of the public and non-government school systems.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video