Page 1194 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 7 May 2014
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Parents are able to log in from their home computers, smart phones and tablets to complete their child’s enrolment. Over 1,000 enrolments were received on the opening day of the enrolment period. A help line has also assisted parents and carers with questions about the process. This is one more step that we are taking to build parental engagement at our schools, helping to ensure that great outcomes continue for our students.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, what benefits does this online form have for schools and principals?
MS BURCH: The online enrolment is the beginning of a new era for ACT public schools and principals. The single online enrolment form, replacing multiple hardcopy forms, as well as consistent system-wide procedures and time lines applying to all public schools, are great advances.
Parents and families are at the centre of our school communities and, as a result, we have ensured that the new process is user friendly and efficient. Previous enrolment practices saw schools inundated with families submitting paper enrolment forms and other documentation at the front office, often adding extra pressure to the staffing of administrative teams.
Online enrolment now allows families to enrol or transfer at their convenience, from a location of their choice, and once the enrolment has been confirmed a meeting between the applicant and the accepting school will be arranged. The online enrolment and transfer form will reduce staffing pressures and provide consistent time lines and procedures for all public schools in the ACT.
Principals can now get timely information on their students and start the conversation with parents earlier about the needs of their children. This is a small but important step forward—easier and quicker for parents and carers and much more transparent and efficient for our school administrators.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, what other programs and policies is the government implementing to make it easier for parents to engage with their schools?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Porter for her question. Ensuring that parents, students and families are at the centre of everything that our schools do is a priority of this government and we have commenced two key projects that will work to support parental engagement and involvement in education sectors across the ACT.
The preschool matters program acknowledges and recognises the expertise of families in their children’s education and the importance of parental involvement and engagement in the preschool area. Preschool matters has been developed in consultation with stakeholders from early childhood education services and parent representative groups.
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