Annual Conference calls for 21st century conditions

By

Dennis Long

Federation has called for Australia to rebuild and renew its public education facilities.

The theme of Federation's Annual Conference this year was "21st century conditions for 21st century learning".

The conference noted that with the election of a federal Labor government, "an ideal opportunity exists now" for state and federal governments to "cooperate to rebuild and refurbish our public schools and TAFE colleges to a standard sufficient to provide the best possible environment for teaching and learning in the 21st century".

Conference called on the Rudd Labor Government to demonstrate leadership and make public education a national priority.

Federation will wage a "concerted campaign" to improve the physical infrastructure of public schools.

The union will develop a publicity plan to support the campaign for improved recurrent and capital funding of public schools.

The conference said that the issue of infrastructure "cannot be divorced from the global crisis of greenhouse gas emissions" and called for all future schools and colleges to be built with world's best practice passive heating and cooling features to minimise energy demands, retrofitting systems in older buildings wherever feasible and for training and maintenance to ensure that reverse-cycle air conditioners are energy efficient.

The conference called for new building codes for the construction of new schools and colleges which "take into account both the environmental and climatic conditions of the location of the new site".

Federation continues to oppose the placement of un-flued gas heaters in schools and colleges.

The union will also pursue the issues of classrooms having telephones and all teachers having a computer on their desk.

The conference said that 21st century conditions means more than just physical infrastructure and includes: involving teachers in decision making; improved resource levels; new technologies; extra and differential resources in areas of socio-economic disadvantage; and extra investment to meet the special needs of students.

Annual Conference authorised schools, TAFE colleges and other workplaces to take industrial action where safety, security and educational opportunities are put at risk by lack of staffing or under-resourcing.

Dennis Long is the Editor.

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