NSW Teachers Federation has called on state and territory education ministers to roundly reject the four-week timeframe for submissions to the Gonski 2.0 review panel announced today by Education Minister Simon Birmingham.
State and territory ministers will be gathering for the Australian Education Council meeting in Adelaide this Friday.
Federation President Maurie Mulheron described the time-frame as farcical for a review that is meant to shape the relationship between resourcing and effective teaching and learning. This is a serious concern as the final recommendations will directly affect all teachers and students across the country.
The Federal Government revealed that the submission phase will close on October 13.
“Allowing just four weeks for submissions to a review that will weigh up the critical issues of schools funding and effective teaching and learning strategies is to treat the education system – the teachers, students and parents – with contempt,” Mr Mulheron said.
“In the face of deep concerns over school funding, the latest consultation is being drastically limited to avoid further scrutiny and limit the participation of teachers in the submission process, with consultation with the broader school community made more difficult due to the school holidays,” Mr Mulheron said.
“The original review spanned many months and attracted immense public interest with more than 7000 written submissions, and the panel met with hundreds of professionals and stakeholders in the school education community. The Gonski 2.0 review timeline is farcical.”