Page 2047 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 4 June 2019
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technology-enabled learning and the use of ICT in schools. I do not think there is an issue with using ICT in schools. We all have a couple of devices on our desks in front of us right now; there is no point in excluding that from children. That is going to be part of their lives now and well into the future.
How we teach and support our children and young people to use those devices responsibly is part of the work of the education system—that is for sure—but part of it is also about advising parents and families about how they can support children and young people in this space, which is what I was referring to, about the conversations and how to open those conversations with children and young people about the time that they are spending on online gaming. A lot of that information is available on the internet through the eSafety Commissioner. I know that that is shared around regularly at public schools in the ACT.
There is no doubt that more work needs to happen in this place as a country. I know that it is an issue, as I said, that state and territory education ministers and the federal education minister have discussed. It will become more of a priority for ministers to attend to as well.
Budget—education
MS CHEYNE: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Minister, what initiatives so far announced in the 2019 budget respond to the growing number of Canberra families choosing our high quality public education system?
MS BERRY: I thank Ms Cheyne for the question. This week I was happy to continue with the government’s commitment to provide high quality public education by announcing new, expanded schools and funding for feasibility and planning work. It is clear from the most recent ACT school census that Canberrans trust the excellent learning opportunity provided through our government schools. A growing proportion of students attend government schools, and government school enrolments are already up by nearly 10 per cent over last year.
In Gungahlin, which, as we know, is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, population projections indicate that the suburbs of Moncrieff, Taylor, Jacka, Kenny and Throsby will see more than 2,300 new births by 2028. The 2019 ACT budget is responding by providing two high quality government schools and expert teachers and staff to make sure that those students and young people have a place at a school close to their home.
The government will deliver a new primary school in Throsby through the allocation of $47 million in the budget and will begin work on a new high school for Kenny, with $2 million set aside for planning and design. The government is also continuing its commitment to expand Franklin Early Childhood School, with $29.5 million allocated to construct permanent buildings as the school grows, to accommodate students from kindergarten to year 6.
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