Public Education — worth the investment

By Angelo Gavrielatos

"Public Education -- Worth the Investment" will be the theme for National Public Education Day on Thursday May 19.

National Public Education Day allows us to highlight the achievements of public education but also to focus on the necessary campaigns aimed at ensuring governments fulfil their responsibilities.

This year Public Education Day will occur during Education Week, May 16-20. The Department of Education and Training's (DET's) theme for Education Week is "NSW Public Schools Leading the Way".

A number of activities have been sponsored and funded by Federation and DET. These activities include Back to School Day and a special public education supplement in the Cumberland Newspaper Group in metropolitan Sydney.

Back to School Day will occur on Tuesday May 17. Federation has funded this initiative to the order of $50,000. DET has matched this funding in kind.

The Back to School Day program has its origins in Victoria, coordinated by an organisation called Education Foundation. It has assisted schools to link up with former prominent or successful students whose visits to schools on that particular day provide a backdrop for the promotion of the wonderful work being done in public schools.

Federation is also funding a full page advertisement as part of a special public education supplement for all newspapers which are a part of the Cumberland Newspaper Group. This year the supplement will be in the form of a wraparound promoting public education across all metropolitan areas covered by the Cumberland Newspaper Group.

Discussions are occurring with the Rural Press Group to replicate the model for regional NSW.

Scheduled during the third week in May, Public Education Day has become a feature event on school and college calendars nationwide.

The first nationwide Public Education Day was celebrated on March 15, 2001. It was a celebration highlighting the critical importance of public education as the heart of community and the need for public education to be properly supported and funded.

Public Education Day, May 23, 2002 saw the release of the first findings from the Vinson Inquiry as well as a range of local activities in support of public education.

Public Education Day, May 22, 2003 was celebrated under the banners "Valuing public schools, teachers and students" and "Valuing TAFE colleges, teachers and students". The day provided an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of the Vinson Report to public education and to focus on continuing its implementation.

Public Education Day, May 20, 2004 took place under the banner of "Public education -- it is our future". In the context of the federal election, it was a day to celebrate and mobilise our support for public education.

Angelo Gavrielatos is the Senior Vice President.

For further information

March 2005 contents