Education and the 2010 Federal Election

This election is an important opportunity for all parties to outline their plans for Australia’s future and for the future of our public schools.

 Our top priorities are:

1. A fairer federal funding system. We need a Federal Government that will put public schools first again. 
2. Greater investment in our teachers. It’s time to tackle teacher shortages and invest more in training and professional development.
3. Smaller class sizes. We need to reduce class sizes and ensure all children get the individual attention they need.
4. Modern buildings and facilities. It’s vital that the upgrade of primary and secondary schools continues.

 

What the Parties Are Offering

 

There are significant differences in what the major parties have promised in education.

To help you make up your mind which party will deliver the best outcome for public education click on one of the headings below or download the AEU guide.

 

Schools Funding and Resources
Teaching/School Leadership
Assessment and Reporting
Skills Training and TAFE
Early Childhood Education

 

School Funding and Resources

 

Labor

• Keep the SES funding system in place until 2014 (review now underway).
• Make reward payments of up to $100,000 to 500 schools from 2013 and 1,000 schools from 2014.
• Extend the school chaplaincy program to another 1,000 schools.    

 

Coalition

• Keep the SES funding system in place until 2016.
• Direct BER funding straight to schools.
• Abolish the Computers in Schools program.
• Further cut National Partnership funding to pay for a smaller computers and technology fund.
• Extend the chaplains in schools program.
• Offer voucher funding to a small number of students with disabilities.

Greens

• Replace the SES funding system with one that substantially increases funding to public schools.
• Start a community fund that will pay for enhanced student and community outreach services.
• Increase funding for  Asian language teaching.

 

Teaching/School Leadership

 

Labor

• Allow other professionals into teaching after 8 weeks of initial training.
• Give principals the power to select and employ teachers in 1,000 self-managed schools.
• Introduce performance pay with 10 per cent of teachers to get bonuses equal to 10 per cent of their salary from 2014.

 

Coalition

• Establish a board of trustees that schools can apply to for teacher pay bonuses from 2013. (Paid for by cutting funding for low SES schools and literacy and numeracy).
• Negotiate with the states to give more power to principals to select and manage staff after 2012.
• Spend $20 million on PD for national curriculum.          

 

Greens

• Introduce a teaching scholarship program.
• Introduce a teacher mentoring program.

  

Assessment and Reporting

 

Labor

• Add funding and improvement data to My School website.
• Examine recommendations of a working party on modifications to the site and how to prevent  league tables.      

 

Coalition

• Modify My School to show school improvement not annual raw scores.
• Extend NAPLAN testing to all years between 3 and 10.         

 

Greens

• Modify information on My School to improve its accuracy and stop the media creating league tables.

 

Skills Training and TAFE

 

Labor

• Continue the roll-out of trade training centres in 1,800 additional schools.
• Introduce a National Trade Cadetship program.
• Cut training places to fund cash payments for apprentices.

 

Coalition

• Abolish the Trade Training Centres in schools program.
• Establish up to 30 new Australian Technical Colleges.
• Abolish 396,000 training places (160,000 in TAFE).

 

Greens

• Increase funding for TAFE.

   

Early Childhood Education

 

Labor

• Proceed with reforms including the National Quality Framework, an early years learning framework and universal access to 15 hours of pre-school education a week, 40 weeks a year.

 

Coalition

• Review early childhood education and consider a universal subsidised entitlement (minimum of 10 hours a week).  Review National Quality Framework.

 

Greens

• Committed to 15 hours a week of fully government funded pre-school for 3 to 4 year-olds and 4 to 5 year-olds.