Page 1959 - Week 05 - Thursday, 5 May 2011
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In the disability sector, there are some positive initiatives. An additional $20 million to support students with disabilities sounds really positive, and certainly not before time. But again, it is only for students in public schools. And do we have to go through the same tedious process we did last year to ensure it gets delivered?
Tough luck if you are a special needs student in non-government schooling. And so much for consultation. The non-government sector was also actively involved in the review of special education in ACT schools, only to be now completely ignored.
Daryl Smeaton, the chair of the ACT Catholic Education Commission, said today:
It is clear the Minister for Education is not interested in the educational outcomes of close to half the school age population within his portfolio.
When you balance the $20 million against additional revenue of $400 million and spending of $430 million for new government offices, you have to question the government’s priorities. Certainly, the education allocations fall well short of what various groups sought in their pre-budget submissions.
The ACT Council of P&C Associations asked for a dedicated bullying response and investigation officer, recurrent funding to employ more relief teachers to help when stage 1 of the national curriculum is introduced, more funds for more materials to teach the new curriculum, and funding of counsellors and psychologists in schools.
As I said earlier, bullying in the playground and in cyberspace is becoming a serious issue for schools, school administrators and parents. It is entirely appropriate for the ACT Council of P&C Associations to seek help from government to address it. It is in the strategic plan. But that is where it stays. More rhetoric.
The Non-government Schools Education Council asked for a new approach to per capita funding to progressively increase to 25 per cent funding of students in government schools and a more realistic indexation factor. They also sought a new process to support capital development in non-government schools. The Catholic Education Commission sought equitable funding support for students with disabilities. Well, we know that they were ignored.
Turning briefly to other areas, I am relieved that at last we have some extra money for accessible public transport, for a centralised wheelchair accessible taxi booking service and increased places for school leavers with disabilities. I note that there is money in the budget for the Multicultural Festival. Given the current Minister for Multicultural Affairs’ previous difficulties with keeping the Multicultural Festival budget in line, we can only hope the $100,000 allocated for next year does not blow out like it did a couple of years ago.
In sports funding, again, we see this scattergun approach, but I welcome the improvements to the Isabella and Charnwood playing fields, the support for Asian Cup matches, and improvements to Manuka oval. As the nation’s capital, we need quality playing arenas to attract top sports events.
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