[Greens-Media] School maintenance, TAFE funding and early childhood spending failures highlighted by NSW Audit report

[John Kaye]

School maintenance, TAFE funding and early childhood spending failures
highlighted by NSW Audit report

Media release: 13 December 2014

The NSW Auditor-General’s 2014 Financial Audit of the Department of
Education and Communities has exposed significant problems with the funding
of early childhood education, TAFE and public school maintenance, according
to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

(NSW Auditor-General: 'Financial Audit – Volume Thirteen 2014, Focusing on
Education and Communities', December 2014, http://j.mp/AG14Edn)

('Student literacy and numeracy scores falling', Sydney Morning Herald, 13
December, page 5, http://j.mp/smh141213)

School maintenance backlog: $548 million (p. 39)

The Department has conducted its first Lifecycle Costing analysis of the
maintenance and building renewal needs of public schools in NSW.

The new methodology found a $548 million backlog, which represents 2.3
percent of the total capital (replacement) value of schools. This is
substantially higher than the Department's preferred value of 1.5 percent.

The Auditor-General recommended that the Department and NSW Treasury
develop an "appropriate response to backlog maintenance" without specifying
what that might be.

Greens NSW MP Kaye said: "The Baird government is aiming very low.

"They are prepared to accept a backlog of $375 million.

"While that's a $190 million improvement on the current situation, it means
that the Baird government, like its Labor predecessor, will continue to
tolerate leaky roofs, mouldy walls, damaged floor coverings and toilets
that don't flush properly.

"Public schools are caught between the Department and Treasury, with
neither prepared to set a standard of maintenance that respects the needs
of students and teachers.

"It might be ok for accountants, politicians and bureaucrats to argue over
the acceptable level of backlog, but for students and teachers any  unmet
need means mouldy classrooms and smelly toilets," Dr Kaye said.

Early Childhood literacy and numeracy targets unlikely to be met (pp. 48 –
54)

The results of the Best Start Kindergarten Assessments of the literacy and
numeracy skills of children beginning their first year of schooling show
falling and unacceptable levels of achievement.

In 2013, 23 percent of school beginners failed achieve a level one in any
aspect of literacy. This number has been growing since 2011, with a 3%
increase  between 2012 and 2013.

While greater numbers of children are accessing preschool programs, the
Auditor-General published information questioning the quality of early
childhood education.

Dr Kaye said: "The alarm bells should be going off in Education Minister
Piccoli's office. His pre-schooling policies will take a deteriorating
situation and make it much worse.

"After four years of Liberal-National government in NSW, the level of
preparation of children starting school is still falling.

"Last year, the NSW government slashed opportunities for most children to
access two years of preschooling.

"Despite the research showing that two years of quality preschooling sets
children up for a highly successful education, and despite falling the
skills levels of school beginners, Education Minister Adrian Piccoli is
making it much harder for many parents to give their children a good start.

"Quality preschooling does not come cheaply but the benefits well justify
the costs," Dr Kaye said.

TAFE cuts reducing opportunities for school leavers (pp. 54-55)

NSW is now unlikely to be able to achieve targets for increasing the
proportion of post-school qualifications, including in rural and regional
NSW.

Dr Kaye said: "No one should be surprised by the failure of Baird-Grant
government policies to deliver on targets for post-school training.

"Subjecting TAFE to budget cuts, privatisation, course cuts, fee increases
and staff reductions will inevitably reduce opportunities for further
engagement in education and training.

"The NSW Liberal-National government talks big on targets for post-school
qualifications but then cripples the most important vehicle for delivering
education and training," 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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