[Greens-Media] Two governments, two education plans, no dollars

[John Kaye]

Two governments, two education plans, no dollars

Media release: 19 August 2012

Both the O'Farrell and Gillard governments are pushing policies that will
devastate public schools while the Gonski review's promise of a $5 billion
boost to education funding is rapidly becoming a political orphan,
according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: "The O'Farrell government is trying to dump responsibility
for decades of inadequate funding onto school principals, while Prime
Minister Julie Gillard wants to punish schools that serve disadvantaged
communities.

"Neither level of government is prepared to stump up the additional funding
that public schools so desperately need to reduce class sizes and allow
teachers to develop their professional practice.

"Both the state Coalition and federal Labor are trying to impose corporate
models onto public schools.

"Importing failed ideologies from the USA and the UK will squander the
legacy of a quality public education system that ensures every class is
taught by a qualified teacher.

"Public schools do not need to bribed, threatened, shamed or bullied into
preforming better.

"If Mr O'Farrell or Ms Gillard wants to help, they should provide
additional funds to support early career teachers and allow teachers time
to work together on improving teaching and learning.

"Punishing schools that struggle will inevitably result in a downward
spiral in educational outcomes.

"It might sound smart in Canberra or New York but it wont work in the
tougher areas of NSW," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP
phone: 0407 195 455
web: www.john.nsw.greens.org.au
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