Page 1746 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 4 May 2011
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With that, Mr Speaker, I formally move the amendment I have circulated in my name:
Omit all words after “demographic range of students; and” in subparagraph (1)(f), substitute:
“(1) (g) that the MySchool website provides comprehensive disaggregated data of per student funding in monetary terms from ACT and Commonwealth Government sources to ACT schools; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) work to ensure that the ACT schools sector continues to operate in a collaborative and co-operative fashion for the benefit of ACT students; and
(b) make representations to the Review of Funding for Schooling seeking to ensure:
(i) a fair share of funding for all ACT schools, including Catholic schools; and
(ii) that any school funding model is centred on student need.”.
It goes to note that the My School website provides the comprehensive disaggregated data that Mr Doszpot is seeking in terms of ACT and commonwealth government resources and calls on the government to work to ensure that all schools continue to operate in a collaborative and cooperative fashion for the benefit of ACT students. It requires us to make representations, as we will, to the review of funding for schooling to seek to ensure a fair share of funding for all ACT schools, including Catholic schools, and it notes that any school funding model should be centred on student need.
I hope that this amendment is something that will attract the support of all parties in this place. I think it is a fair and reasonable amendment that recognises the importance of providing a fair share of funding for all schools and all students in the ACT. I commend my amendment to Mr Doszpot’s motion to the Assembly.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (10.30): The Greens support educational choice and, as a party, have long held the view that quality and accessible education is the right of every Australian child. Catholic schools certainly play a role in the education of Australian students, including here in the territory. And I note that just over a quarter of students attend Catholic systemic schools. It is also well known that a growing number of students attending Catholic schools are not in fact Catholics themselves, and this demonstrates that Catholic schools are providing an education that is regarded outside of its religious base.
The Catholic Education Office is responding to the needs of families in growth areas. Currently a Catholic high school is being built in Gungahlin, and by 2013, when the school is set to open, there will be a Catholic education option from preschool to year 12. Currently there are four secondary schools, 24 primary schools and two early
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