Federal Labor’s plan to weaken the ability of state governments to
regulate public schools will make it much harder to put a qualified
teacher in front of every classroom and maintain high quality in all
schools, according to Greens NSW Senate candidate Lee Rhiannon
(‘Parents tasked with hire learning’, Daily Telegraph, 2 August,).
Ms Rhiannon said: “While the NSW Department of Education has been far
from perfect, Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s plan to take away its
ability to place qualified staff into every classroom would be a
disaster for rural and regional schools and for disadvantaged
communities.
“NSW’s staffing arrangements, which would be destroyed by the Gillard
plan, are central to the promise that every student will receive a
quality education from a qualified teacher.
“NSW public schools have a far lower rate of child sexual abuse than
non-government schools, in large part because of the stringent
protocols put in place by the Department.
“Weakening controls will make public schools look much more like
non-government institutions, exposing students to higher risk levels
and in some cases much lower standards.
“Ms Gillard’s war on the states might make for good election coverage
but it is not in the best interests of the students in NSW’s 2,300
public schools.
“The Labor leader is using education as a platform to distance herself
from the unpopular state governments but along the way she is
undermining public education.
“School principals and P&Cs do an excellent job and should be part of
a partnership with the state and federal governments.
“This is very different to weakening the ability of state authorities
to ensure staffing, child safety and educational quality,” Ms Rhiannon
said.
For more information: Lee Rhiannon 0427 861 568