[Greens-Media] Language support lost in NSW push to school autonomy

[John Kaye]

Language support lost in NSW push to school autonomy

Media release: 25 November 2013

The O'Farrell government is dismantling the expert support that has enabled
children from non-English speaking backgrounds to successfully participate
in education, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

('NSW Education Department funding changes hit ESL support program', SMH,
25 November, page 10, http://j.mp/smh131125)

Dr Kaye said: "The O’Farrell government is axing 31 specialist
English-as-Second-Language support positions in the Department of Education.

"Education Minister Adrian Piccoli is taking apart a program that has a
long track record of transitioning students who struggle with English into
successful learners.

"Claims that the funds will end up in school budgets are nothing but a
smokescreen to disguise the de-funding of ESL services.

"The O'Farrell government's Resource Allocation Model will see specialist
ESL teacher disappear and programs broken up.

"Principals will be confronted with an impossible decision about which
student they will have to abandon. Tight budgets will leave many schools
unable to provide for the diverse needs in their classrooms

"Minister Piccoli is quietly dismantling the expert support services and
abandoning teachers to confront an impossible array of complex learning
requirements on their own.

"ESL teaching in NSW is being condemned to the same fate as the Drug and
Alcohol Unit, the Arts Unit and equity programs.

"They are all victims of the same ideological push to destroy the
Department of Education and make school principals the focus of blame for
future budget cuts.

"Teachers cannot be expected to deliver targeted support across this broad
range of challenges without the backup of experts.

"The only way to maintain the expertise and focus on ESL teaching is with a
state-wide program," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

Editor's note: Confirmation of the O'Farrell government's intentions are
contained in Minister Piccoli's 11 July 2013 letter to the Refuge Council
of  Australia, available at http://j.mp/1chnZzd

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