[Greens-Media] Tebbutt failing Marrickville students from non-English speaking backgrounds

[Alison Orme]

MEDIA RELEASE - 30 August 2005

Tebbutt failing Marrickville students from non-English speaking backgrounds 

As Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt should be embarrassed at the crisis in ESL (English as a Second Language) services at Marrickville's local public schools, said Greens MP and education spokesperson Lee Rhiannon today.

"I was disappointed that Ms Tebbutt yesterday turned down an invitation from teachers to speak at a public forum at Bankstown Girls High on ESL services in Marrickville and other schools across NSW," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Maybe she was too busy campaigning, or ashamed that her Government had failed to inject more money into ESL funding which has been frozen since 1993.

"I met with Minister Tebbutt two weeks ago and asked her what she is going to do to about an issue which Professor Tony Vinson, the NSW Teachers' Federation and her own Department of Education have sounded the alarm bells on.

"She passed the buck, saying it was the Commonwealth's responsibility and that no extra funding from her Government would be forthcoming in the near future. 

"But with 38.9% of Marrickville's population born overseas and 8.9% of people speaking English not well or not at all, which is double the figure across Sydney, Minister Tebbutt can't afford to turn her back on her very multi-cultural electorate.

"Since 1983 the ratio of ESL teachers to ESL students has almost doubled. For example in primary schools in 1983 there was one ESL teacher for 55 students. That one teacher must now cater for 110 students. 

"In June this year I successfully moved a motion in the NSW Upper House calling for 100 additional ESL teachers to meet rising demand. The Labor Party, including Ms Tebbutt, voted against the motion.  

"The extra 100 teachers would cost a mere $8.5 million, which is a drop in the ocean considering her Government's budget came in with a $303 million surplus in 2004/5. 

"Studies show that not becoming literate in English can easily translate to alienation from school, acting out behaviour and leaving school early. 

"Every day that goes past without an injection of funding for additional ESL teachers is another day where NESB students in Marrickville miss out," Ms Rhiannon said.

More information: Alison Orme - 9230 3551; 0427 861 568


Alison Orme (Tues, Wed & alternate Thurs)
Adviser
Lee Rhiannon, MLC
The Greens
NSW Parliament
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
ph 02 9230 3549
mob 0432 332 104
fax 02 9230 3550
email: alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au
http://www.lee.greens.org.au