Page 783 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 1 April 2008

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MS PORTER: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Mrs Dunne: I suspect I know a little bit more about language teaching than you do, Andrew.

Mr Barr: Why?

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Barr.

Mrs Dunne: Just a little bit.

MS PORTER: Shall I continue, Mr Deputy Speaker?

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Barr and Mrs Dunne, cease conversations across the chamber. This is my last warning to you both.

Members interjecting—

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Barr, I am warning you. You did not have to respond in that fashion, and I warn you.

MS PORTER: This investment recognises the importance of language skills in today’s global community and will help students to become internationally engaged and sensitive to cultural diversity with the ability to communicate, interact and negotiate within and across languages and cultures.

We all know how important encouraging physical activity is in relation to our young people’s life’s chances, and the minister emphasised the importance of this earlier today. As the minister said, three specialist care teachers have been provided to develop capacity in primary school teachers to deliver quality physical education for students over the next three years. This will, importantly, ensure that primary school teachers have the ability to deliver quality physical education programs that raise the level of physical activity and also the skill levels as well as making it engaging for students.

The new curriculum framework released by the minister late last year is an historic development in ACT education. The framework represents the culmination of four years of important work which situates the ACT as a leader of education in the nation. It gives the ACT community a guarantee that no matter which school they attend our students will be provided with contemporary, relevant and challenging learning for the 21st century.

Public education remains as one of the Stanhope government’s highest priorities. We are completely reinvigorating the system. The school upgrades being undertaken and the construction of the new schools that the minister has mentioned will ensure that our students have access to high class education facilities. Teachers are being valued for their role and students are being given access to the best practice teaching programs and the state of art information technology resources. There can be no doubt that the public education system in the ACT is in good hands.


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