Page 1979 - Week 05 - Thursday, 3 May 2012
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government regarding the future of not only the CIT but also another of the key players in our local education system, the University of Canberra.
There have been stories about journalism courses by journalists, the freedom or otherwise of the freedom of information investigations and rallies against funding cuts. There has been a renewed focus on the importance of English as an additional language or dialect teaching and learning in ACT public schools, and a mention of the importance of English proficiency at universities as well. We have learned of a game changer coming our way, to the tune of some $28 million, fundamentally changing vocational education and training in the ACT, and significantly increasing the commercial and competitive nature of the sector.
And of course, no-one here can ignore what is arguably the most significant piece of work affecting Australian schools in recent times—the Gonski review and the subsequent report that has recommended a new way of funding our schools.
I know that all affected stakeholders are currently engaged in consultations and modelling around aspects of the student resource standard, and are in the process of identifying possible implications. I am very aware that there are concerns—real concerns—about possible negative impacts for schools in the ACT. I also know that at this stage all participants are doing this work in good faith and have yet to formally and publicly state their final positions. This is a sign, I feel, that everyone is still determining the exact nature of the changes and that people are wisely awaiting more detailed modelling information from the commonwealth before deciding upon their positions.
The ACT Greens are treating these issues seriously. I am keen to hear people’s concerns. My office has held meetings with many stakeholders to discuss a wide range of topics, including the Gonski report. We are very lucky to have such a wide range of people and groups representing the interests of the education sector here in the ACT. I am always impressed by the passion each of these groups shows in advocating for its members and students. We are home to a diverse population and an equally diverse range of groups, who all do a fantastic job of highlighting the challenges we face.
While we may not always agree on every topic, we can and do operate on a basis of mutual respect and professional courtesy, something that is at times missing from this Assembly, particularly on this subject. As the nation’s capital, we are home to the federal government and national institutions, but our city has also become a high quality educational hub which proudly punches above its weight with schools and universities of international repute. Canberra has also grown into a knowledge and learning capital. We are a city with a long history as a place of academic learning, boasting a fantastic range of leaders in education, such as the ANU, University of Canberra and Australian Catholic University. Our dynamic CIT offers world-class hospitality courses, amongst others, and is home to some great research centres.
This is why we must get it right. The ACT must make sure we get the best deal we can from the recent federal policy initiatives and ensure that no student is
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