Page 1817 - Week 05 - Thursday, 8 May 2008
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Education and Training or by artsACT, (c) an arms length decision made by an independent arts or education panel, (d) made by the Minister personally, or by ministerial staff or (e) entirely in addition to other education programs provided by theatre companies to schools and teachers;
(3) Was the contract with Ausdance ACT for an additional $20 000 per annum for three years (a) awarded through open tender or in response to a direct application, (b) awarded by the ACT Department of Education or by artsACT, (c) an arms length decision made by an independent arts or education panel, (d) made by the Minister personally, or by ministerial staff or (e) entirely in addition to other education programs provided by Ausdance;
(4) Is the Minister still committed to arms length funding for professional arts projects and practice;
(5) Is it the responsibility for the Department of Education and Training to ensure programs of arts education in ACT schools are high quality and offer good value for money; if not, whose responsibility is it;
(6) Given all the measures above are targeted at high schools, what is the Minister or the Department of Education and Training doing to support ACT primary teachers address the ACT curriculum framework with regard to the arts.
Mr Barr: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1,2,3) The 2007-08 Second Appropriation provided additional funding for the teaching of dance and drama in ACT public high schools and colleges. This included services provided by KultureBreak, the Bell Shakespeare Company and Ausdance. The decision to fund this initiative was an outcome of Executive deliberations. The Department of Education and Training is in the process of finalising the contracts.
(4) As Minister for Education and Training I am committed to ensuring quality education services and professional learning for teaching staff.
(5) Yes. The Department is responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of funded partnerships.
(6) The Department of Education and Training is supporting primary schools in the implementation of the curriculum framework Every chance to learn in all learning areas. Specifically in the arts the support mechanisms in place are as follows:
• professional learning sessions are held for primary teachers of the arts each term
• partnerships have been formed between the Department of Education and Training and cultural institutions in the ACT. These organisations are offering professional learning around the implementation of the curriculum framework. A recent example is a visual arts workshop for primary teachers that was run at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). The education officer at NGA in consultation with DET is planning further workshops specifically for primary school teachers. There is also a partnership between the University of Canberra and the Department with practical workshops being planned for primary school teachers.
• curriculum officers have been and are available on request to visit schools and support them in the implementation process.
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