Page 2272 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 31 October 1989
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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
The following answer to a question was provided:
Gifted Children
Mr Whalan: On 18 October 1989 Mr Moore asked me the following question:
What provision is being made to assist gifted and talented children to realise their potential.
My response is: it is the department's task to cater for the full range of abilities of students in public education. This involves making adequate provision for students who are disabled, disadvantaged or who require special programs because of their particular needs, as well as providing appropriate programs for high ability students or students with particular talents.
As far as possible, the department seeks to meet these needs by way of normal program arrangements. Many courses, for example, are available at both normal and advanced levels. This allows students with particular abilities in areas such as foreign languages, mathematics, music or science to undertake very high level studies while at school, and in some areas to gain advanced standing in higher education programs as a result.
The department also provides specific programs for children who have particular talents. An example of this is the media and drama courses at Narrabundah College.
There are also some areas where the department enters into special arrangements to provide courses for students with talents in particular areas. These include the specialised ballet program at Ginninderra High School, the bilingual program at Telopea Park school and the joint School of Music programs at Red Hill and Ainslie Primary Schools.
A number of programs specifically designed for gifted students are also in operation, such as the Lyneham enriched academic program (LEAP) at Lyneham High School. Other programs operate at a range of schools, including eight individual primary schools and two other high schools.
At the system level, the department is developing a package of in-service courses designed to assist classroom teachers to best cater for gifted and talented students.
A parents association for gifted and talented education is also active in the ACT. This association provides counselling, support, enrichment and peer interaction activities for gifted and talented students. Although not
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