Page 2707 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 12 August 2015
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(d) the decision by the Minister for Education and Training to institute a literacy and numeracy test for all new teachers in ACT Public Schools from 2016;
(e) the ACT Government’s introduction of the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (Australian Professional Standards for Teachers) Determination as a requirement for teacher registration in the ACT; and
(f) the work the ACT Government is undertaking in collaboration with the University of Canberra and the Australian Catholic University to improve teacher education courses and ensure new graduate teachers are classroom ready; and
(2) calls on the ACT Government to continue to work with:
(a) the Commonwealth, States and Territories on implementing national improvements to teacher quality; and
(b) employers, universities, teacher and parent groups on improvements to ACT teacher quality to ensure ACT students continue to achieve excellent school outcomes.
I am pleased to move this motion today on the importance of improving student outcomes and teacher quality here in the ACT. Quality education should always be a key priority for any government. The ACT Labor government is particularly focused on improving teacher quality for Canberra’s 70,000 students across both government and non-government schools.
Established research shows that teacher quality is one of the most influential in-school factors affecting outcomes for students across all sectors of schooling. But international comparisons have also shown that the outcomes for Australian students have not kept pace with those in other countries regarded as our peers.
I am a strong believer in the power of education. It is the way I was brought up, and it is the way I have lived my life. Every child should have a right to the best education possible, regardless of where they live or what their socioeconomic background might be. I am proud that in the 2015-16 ACT budget there is a record $1.1 billion for education to ensure we continue to put the needs of students first.
This budget will invest more than $160 million in modern classrooms and schools right across Canberra. It includes $18.4 million to modernise Belconnen High School, including extensive refurbishment and upgrading of existing facilities, a project that is very much welcomed by the Belconnen High School community. This budget includes $3.9 million in funding to help students with disability, including extra resources to increase participation in education and transport for students with a disability to ACT public schools.
It includes $1.3 million for the next stage of online services for professional learning, teaching standards and professional practice through the ACT Teacher Quality Institute. This is important, and it highlights that the quality and capabilities of the
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