Equity programs saved

By Angelo Gavrielatos

The State Government has back-flipped on its decision to cut the Priority Action Schools Program (PASP) and the Priority Schools Funding Program (PSFP), following strong campaigning from the public education community.

Federation embarked on a principled and highly visible political and media campaign, which included planned demonstrations of parents, teachers and principals, after information that the Government intended to renege on its pre-election promise to retain and enhance PSFP and 'retain' PASP.

The Government's intention to scrap the highly successful PASP was exposed when the 74 schools on the program were advised in writing by DET that: "temporary teachers and other casuals employed under PAS[P] should be advised that PAS[P] funding for these positions will cease at the end of 2004."

On August 18 Education Minister Dr Andrew Refshauge announced the Government would continue to fund the $16 million dollar PASP which supports 32,000 students in 74 of the most disadvantaged schools across the state and the $61 million dollar PSFP which will support about 570 schools as of next year. (Schools to be included on the program were notified following the announcement).

In announcing the continuation of the programs, the Minister also announced that "an independent educational expert will be appointed to overhaul the state's learning programs for disadvantaged students" and that "recommendations will be provided on future policy directions by March 2005".

It is odd that this was contained in the announcement particularly given that the Minister himself acknowledges in the same media release that we already have more than six years of evaluation and research into the Government's literacy, numeracy and learning programs.

There is no doubt that this decision to waste public money on another evaluation raises the spectre of another attempt by the Government to cut equity funds in 12 months time.

The Government is on notice -- any attempt to use such an exercise to reduce equity programs will result in an even more intense campaign in defence of equity programs.

The Minister needs to understand that equity programs are critical for disadvantaged students for whom the transformational power of education has particular significance.

Angelo Gavrielatos is the Senior Vice President.

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