Equity programs retained and strengthened

by Angelo Gavrielatos, Gary Zadkovich and David Wynne

In response to campaigning by Federation, the NSW Government has announced the retention and extension of programs that address the needs of schools serving socio-economically disadvantaged students.

Only NSW retains an equity program like the previous Disadvantaged Schools Program (DSP), in the form of the Priority Schools Funding Program (PSFP).

The Government accepted the Federation's proposal for a three-tiered approach by adding the Priority Schools Help Program to the Priority Schools Funding Program, involving 542 schools, and the Priority Action Schools Program (PASP), involving 74 schools. This new program "will acknowledge that the needs of schools vary dramatically and the highest possible level of resources and support should be provided to those that need them most. Up to 10 schools will be targeted in communities struggling with sustained and deep seated disadvantage".

The Priority Schools Help Program will commence from the second half of 2003 and feature:

• an enhanced school development process involving parents, teachers, unions and the community
• specific and targeted educational programs to address the particular issues of disadvantage that exist within a school
• intensive support for staff including access to support teams for specific educational issues
• investigating ways of attracting experienced staff to a school, to optimise successful teaching and learning strategies
• giving a school the highest priority for refurbishment and maintenance to enhance the quality of its physical environment
• a high level taskforce to provide intensive support and oversee the implementation of the program.

The Government will retain and enhance the Priority Schools Funding Program in accordance with recommendations made by the Vinson Inquiry. New resources will be available, including induction materials for newly appointed teachers.

The Priority Action Schools Program being implemented for the first time this year will be retained. Early reports from schools on the PASP are optimistic that student achievement and whole school effectiveness will be enhanced.

At the Equity4kids conference in February, Education Minister John Watkins foreshadowed the possibility that some schools may be moved off the PASP and new ones included, depending on the outcomes of the evaluation. This issue will require further negotiation between Department of Education and Training and the Federation.

Angelo Gavrielatos is the Senior Vice President, Gary Zadkovich is an Organiser and David Wynne is the Trade Union Training Officer.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005