Page 2789 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 13 August 2019
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The history of noncompliance and apparent market failure in contract school cleaning highlights that the service would be better delivered through insourcing to meet the territory’s ethical and industrial relations objectives and to meet the ACT community’s expectations of fair treatment for all people, including those who are more vulnerable than most. These workers are critical to the effective operation of public schools and they contribute to creating environments that are welcoming, safe and inclusive. Their right to secure and supported employment is recognised by this government, and I am proud of the work that we have done to make this a reality.
Through these and other initiatives outlined in the budget this government is investing $3.2 billion over four years in recurrent funding and $324.1 million in capital funding to public education in the ACT. The government’s commitment to education is clear and will continue to result in positive outcomes for Canberra’s children and young people.
MR WALL (Brindabella) (3.33): The ACT continues to invest significant amounts of money in education. Investment in education is never wasted but increasing numbers of parents of students in government schools particularly are starting to wonder whether their children are getting the best opportunities and whether our schools are the best environment in which to learn. The ACT once had the enviable record of leading Australia in academic performance. Now it seems to be becoming better known for our violent behaviours, our conversations and our apparent objection to everything from standardised testing through to school chaplains.
Last sitting, the minister for education delivered her future of education strategy implementation plan. I think the word “future” appears to be the most telling part of this publication because after conversations, another favourite word of the minister, with apparently thousands of people, research papers, focus groups, surveys and consultancies, we have a document that tells us that we will review the Education Act, and that we will change the Education Act, and that there will be preschool for three-year-olds, but absolutely no detail, no measurable time frame or outline of how these will be delivered.
The education estimates were not an enlightening exercise. I have to say that between the buzzwords, the acronyms and the use of case studies, we learnt very little. That is disappointing, but under this minister not very surprising. We have great schools in the ACT and we have great teachers. Notwithstanding that, and at the risk yet again of claims from the other side that the Canberra Liberals run down schools, we cannot ignore the many failings in our current education system.
Some, possibly all, are not unique to Canberra but I am not convinced that we are addressing these shortcomings effectively or efficiently. Much has been said about the unacceptable behaviours in a number of our schools. If we read the estimates briefing notes prepared for the minister that have been released under FOI, we could be fooled into believing that much is being done. But I would suggest that it is nothing more than a range of coloured bandaids seeking to address much larger problems.
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