The promises that Labor must keep

By Angelo Gavrielatos

Against a backdrop of voter dissatisfaction and resentment, the Iemma Government has been returned to office with a slightly decreased majority.

In the lead in to the state election, then Education and Training Minister Carmel Tebbutt acknowledged on more than one occasion the critical importance of a strong and vibrant public education system to a healthy and functioning democracy. On March 10 she said that apart from providing "opportunities for everyone, irrespective of wealth, background and location", public education was "the means by which the values of our community are communicated to its citizens. These values of tolerance and understanding, respect and responsibility are not only taught but they are enacted every day in the classroom and in the playground".

The opportunity now exists for a 4th term Labor government to give real meaning to these sentiments, to in fact translate these sentiments into tangible improvements for public education, its students and teachers.

Federation will continue to advance strong and positive proposals to shape the implementation of policies announced by the ALP during the state election campaign.

The ALP announced policies totalling an additional $762.5 million ($506.8 million in capital funding and $255.8 million in recurrent funding) over four years.

Some of the policies about which Federation will seek immediate negotiations with the Government in order to achieve the speediest and best possible implementation include:

Building better schools

$280 million of additional capital works over four years:

• 800 science laboratories at 155 schools
• food technology facilities at 31 schools >li>27 school halls at primary schools with more than 500 students
• 17 gymnasiums at high schools with more than 900 students
• upgrading 200 toilet block facilities
• installing 200 new security fences.

Premier's sporting challenge

$58 million over 4 years including:

• $20 million for school sporting facilities (ovals, netball courts, et cetera)
• $20 million for sporting equipment for schools.
• Combating climate change
• $40 million over four years including:
• $20 million for the Energy Efficient Schools program to upgrade lighting in 200 least efficient high schools and provide grants to innovative solar and alternative energy projects devised by students
• $20 million for the Schools Rainwater Tank program to install a rain water tank in every NSW Government school including $5 million for a Schools Waterfix program to improve water efficiency.

Literacy -- the best start

$82 million over four years to:

• assess reading, writing, and counting ability of children entering kindergarten
• recruit an extra 200 Reading Recovery teachers (100 full time equivalent)
• provide equivalent of 120 full time equivalent to primary schools to provide release for literacy/numeracy coordination
• provide additional staff development for K-2 teachers.

Supporting beginning teachers

$10 million additional funding support over four years to provide schools with the equivalent of one hour a week relief time for each beginning teacher.

Learn or Earn policy

$69 million over four years which includes $14.7 million for capital works in schools. The announcement includes:

• a further 15 trade schools (8 TAFE, 7 schools)
• A "Learning Guarantee": Those under 18 who did not complete year 12 and have no job will have a guaranteed TAFE place for a vocational qualification up to Certificate II (an additional 5850 TAFE training places).

Training our workforce

$46 million over four years which will:

• provide 8300 additional training places at TAFE in areas of skill shortages
• provide 4600 new TAFE training places in rural and regional areas in skill shortage areas such as engineering and primary industries.

Connecting our classrooms

$158 million over four years ($119 million capital) to:

• provide a connected classrooms package of interactive white board, camera and projector to every school to allow them to connect with other classrooms
• introduce improved individual learning tools (for example, podcasting) and ensure internet filtering and email systems keep at the forefront of technological changes
• increase broadband bandwidth to 10 megabit (up from two megabit) where technically feasible (may not be possible for schools on satellite).