[Greens-Media] Saving a few schools won't save public education

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey MEDIA RELEASE
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24 Aug 06

Saving a few schools won't save public education

Deb Foskey, Greens MLA, said that a decision not to close some of the 39 nominated schools, without running a more considered process, would not be a good outcome for public education in the ACT generally.

"It was always my fear that, after the ALP Conference, the dissident ALP Members who voted for a moratorium on school closures would be 'bought' back into the fold" Dr Foskey said today.

"Why else would they have suddenly decided to fully support the Government's very poor process and wrong Towards 2020 Strategy?"

"While, as Wayne Berry MLA says, this may be politics, it won't provide the necessary analysis and strategy setting that public education needs."

"The problem isn't just that more students are going into private schools. It is how well our schools are preparing our children and young people for this century, which is going to present unforeseen new challenges."

"We need to ask what role neighbourhood schools can play in a Canberra where fewer people can afford to drive cars and more ageing people are in their homes."

"We talk about lifelong learning, so let's use excess space, where it exists, to provide it."

"Schools are learning institutions, and they can be adapted to respond to a different demographic challenge."

"These challenges won't be solved by saving a few schools in order to save a few MLAs seats" said Deb Foskey.


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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
====== www.debfoskey.com ======= 
  
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