3 June 2014

Key issue for education must be tackling inequality

The key issue in education the Government needs to address is inequality and the effect this has on children’s ability to learn before anything else, Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said today.

After four months of meetings with the education sector, the Government today released a report on the Investing in Educational Success (IES) policy it announced in January. This policy puts aside $359 million for a plan involving new roles for principals and teachers.

“Teachers need career paths and professional development but they also need a Government committed to tackling child poverty and how this impacts on children’s ability to learn,” Ms Delahunty said.

“There are many unresolved questions about how the $359 million earmarked for the Government’s flagship will be spent.

“Removing school principals and great teachers from classrooms where they are succeeding will also come at a cost to those children they are currently teaching.

“While there are pluses to this policy there are also a number of negatives.

“We need to review Tomorrow’s Schools with school and community input rather than impose schemes that don’t address the underlying issues.

“The Green Party want to see schools in lower income areas turned into hubs which would meet all the health, social and welfare needs of lower income families,” said Ms Delahunty.

“The Government should address inequality in education first by implementing our school hubs plan which will cost less and achieve more.”

© Scoop Media