Data shows NSW public schools to lose millions under Turnbull funding plan
11 May 2017
Section: News
NSW public schools will lose $846 million under the Turnbull government’s plan for school funding, Acting Federation President Gary Zadkovich said today.
Federal Budget robs NSW public school students of proper support
10 May 2017
Section: News
Last night’s federal Budget confirms the Turnbull government intends to abandon genuine needs-based schools funding, Federation Acting President Joan Lemaire said today. Under the six-year National Education Reform Agreement (NERA) signed between Commonwealth and NSW in 2013, all NSW public schools would have achieved the Schooling Resource Standard by 2019, but the Turnbull government’s plan to dishonour the Gonski agreement and spread less money over 10 years means schools might never meet the standard and will remain under-resourced.
Birmingham admits new plan won’t give all students the resources they need
5 May 2017
Section: News
Education Minister Simon Birmingham has admitted that there is no guarantee schools will reach the Schooling Resource Standard under the Turnbull government’s new funding model, the Australian Education Union (AEU) charged today. Mr Birmingham’s comment yesterday that how the states managed their share of education funding was up to them showed the federal government has effectively abandoned the most disadvantaged schools and is “pursuing equity between states at the expense of equity for students”, the AEU said.
Voters prefer Gonski to ‘out of touch’ Turnbull’s company tax cuts
4 May 2017
Section: News
Voters want next week’s federal Budget to fund Gonski in full rather than see Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gifting business with tax cuts, the Australian Education Union (AEU) said today, citing a new survey of 20 marginal seats. The polling, which shows 71 per cent of respondents see Mr Turnbull as being out of touch with their concerns, reinforces the AEU’s condemnation of the federal government’s announcement this week to leave schools $2 billion worse off in 2018-19 by not funding Gonski in full. Voters strongly supported increasing resources for schools.
Turnbull schools funding plan denies learning opportunities to NSW children
3 May 2017
Section: News
Every year that schools are not funded to the minimum resource standard students will be denied the opportunity to reach their potential, Federation Acting President Joan Lemaire said today. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday announced a 10-year funding plan that would effectively prevent all schools reaching the minimum schooling resource standard. If the Turnbull government fully funded its part of the six-year Gonski agreements signed with several state and territory governments, all schools would reach this standard by 2019.
The campaign is working! We must keep the pressure on Turnbull
2 May 2017
Section: News
Today’s announcement by the Federal government tells us that our schools funding campaign has been having a significant impact. It is now more important than ever to keep the pressure on the federal government to deliver the existing funding commitments. Tonight’s tweetathon is a vital chance to tell Malcolm Turnbull that he must deliver on current funding agreements. We need everyone to get on twitter tonight between 6:30 and 8:30pm, tag @turnbullmalcolm, and tell him that he must deliver the current schools funding agreements, now!
The campaign is working! We must keep the pressure on Turnbull
2 May 2017
Section: News
Today’s announcement by the Federal government tells us that our schools funding campaign has been having a significant impact. It is now more important than ever to keep the pressure on the federal government to deliver the existing funding commitments. Tonight’s tweetathon is a vital chance to tell Malcolm Turnbull that he must deliver on current funding agreements. We need everyone to get on twitter tonight between 6:30 and 8:30pm, tag @turnbullmalcolm, and tell him that he must deliver the current schools funding agreements, now!
May Day is an opportunity to commit to solidarity on workers’ rights
1 May 2017
Section: News
Today — May 1— is May Day: an opportunity to remember the hard-won fight by workers and the union movement to secure the eight hour working day and resolve to improve workers’ conditions for the future.
Public high school maths teacher to feature on ‘Australian Story’
1 May 2017
Section: News
Cherrybrook High School mathematics head teacher Eddie Woo will be featured on tonight’s edition of Australian Story on ABC TV at 8pm.
May 2 a day of Gonski action as campaign heats up prior to federal budget
1 May 2017
Section: News
With the federal budget due on May 9, and education minister Simon Birmingham scheduled to make an announcement about schools funding on May 4, the Gonski campaign continues to take the message of fair schools funding to the public.
TAFE teachers’ experience vital at new Skillspoints
27 April 2017
Section: News
The NSW Teachers Federation welcomes the Minister for skills, John Barilaro’s announcement of 9 Skillspoints across the state. These centres will provide an opportunity to re-establish and expand TAFE’s ability to create high quality curriculum to support training packages and specialised TAFE courses required by Industry. Teachers Federation Deputy Secretary Maxine Sharkey said it was important that experienced TAFE teachers took a leading role in the new centres.
Memorial to teachers who fought in both world wars returns with new glow
24 April 2017
Section: News
Today, fittingly on the eve of Anzac Day, the memorial plaque honouring public school teachers who fought in the two world wars was rehung on Federation’s walls after being cleaned and refurbished since being first placed on display in 1955. The memorial plaque was carved by celebrated sculptor Paul Beadle, who was also a teacher and lecturer.
Federation seeks clarification on Safe Schools
18 April 2017
Section: News
Federation is writing to the NSW Education Minister, Rob Stokes, to request more information about the decision to drop the Safe Schools program from NSW schools. In an announcement made over the Easter long weekend, Minister Stokes announced that once federal funding for the program runs out later this year, the state government would not continue to support the program, and would replace it with a new anti-bullying strategy.
NSW Education Minister speaks out for Gonski
7 April 2017
Section: News
NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes will continue to fight “very, very strongly” for the Federal Government to honour its obligation to fund the final two years of the NSW Gonski agreement, ABC Radio reported today ahead of the Education Council meeting in Hobart. Mr Stokes said: “We have a bi-lateral agreement and have met our obligations and we will be insisting the Commonwealth does likewise.”
Premier urged to demand that Federal Government fully funds Gonski agreement
6 April 2017
Section: News
The NSW Public Education Alliance has appealed to the NSW Premier to reject alternatives to the Gonski schools funding model. The Alliance comprises the organisations representing the parents, citizens, principals and teachers of NSW public schools. In a letter sent to the Premier yesterday, the Alliance asks Ms Berejiklian to act on her supportive public statements about securing the Gonski needs-based funding model, and demand that the Federal Government honour its obligations under the NSW Gonski agreement.
Voters reminded of the effects of TAFE funding cuts on their community
5 April 2017
Section: News
Central Coast voters are being reminded of the negative impacts the NSW Coalition’s funding cuts to TAFE are having on locals, before they cast their vote in the Gosford by-election on Saturday. The Liberal-Nationals’ Smart and Skilled privatisation policy forces TAFE to compete with private vocational education and training providers for much of its funding — the result being reduced government funding for TAFE.
NSW Parliament Stands up for Gonski
5 April 2017
Section: News
The campaign for the fair, equitable schools funding offered by the Gonski model has enjoyed strong support in NSW – and support that crosses party lines. In recent weeks, members of NSW parliament have renewed their support for Gonski funding, and the great work the funding is facilitating in NSW schools to lift student outcomes.
Palm Sunday Rally for Refugees 2017
4 April 2017
Section: News
For many people facing violence and oppression in their home countries, fleeing to another country in search of refuge is their only hope for keeping themselves and their families alive.
Support for members affected by natural disaster
4 April 2017
Section: News
On Tuesday, 4 April, Federation Executive authorised a number of financial support options for members affected by the recent floods. “Federation offers its support to affected members and their families at this time,” Acting General Secretary David Wynne said in an email sent to members in affected areas. The email provided details of the following assistance to members directly affected by natural disasters:
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Today on this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Federation members are reminded of their responsibility as educators to organise, act and educate against racism in all its forms. Federation’s Anti – Racism Policy applies to all Federation members and employees and through its decisions and policies, will heed the voices of its members and students who are subjected to racial abuse, discrimination or vilification.