Putting Public Education Back on the Agenda

Students, teachers and parents at Mount Terry Primary School show their support for public education.

THE parents and teachers of Mount Terry Primary School are adding their voices to a state-wide movement aimed at putting public education back on the map in the lead up to the Federal and State elections in 2007.

Like many schools around the state, students, teachers and parents at Mount Terry Primary gathered to erect campaign signs, in what they said is a bid to create awareness with in the community of the extra assistance needed by the public education system.

The signs, and the accompanying campaign are hoped to generate a minimum of $1 billion in funding which is necessary to meet national resource standards.

The campaign will be directed at specific areas of public education, which lack financial assistance and support due to a shortfall in government funding.

The five key areas for improvement will include preschool education for all children to provide strong foundations for future schooling, smaller classes and specialist programs in the early years of high school to assist students in the transition from primary school, access to modern technologies and support for both future and existing teachers.

Special programs and increased funding will also be used to assist students with identifiable needs such as those with disabilities, learning difficulties, non-English backgrounds and Aboriginal children.

Mount Terry Primary School teacher and representative of the Teachers Federation Maria Ellison said public education is inclusive of everyone making it an important part of our society.

This campaign is trying to show parents and the wider community how our public schools are being neglected through gaps in resources and funding.

We are basically fighting to get public education back onto the agenda of both of our governments before the elections next year, she said.

The campaign will also lobby for a further 700 school counsellors to ensure that there is one counsellor per 500 children as opposed to the current one counsellor per 1000 students.