Page 2211 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 4 June 2013
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MS GALLAGHER: I thank Dr Bourke for the question. Due to the historically high levels of investment across the ACT education system, the majority of our 131 schools are above or at the school resourcing standard set by the commonwealth. Only around 35 of those 131 require additional funding to bring them up to the resourcing standard. I think there are five of those that are in the government system; the rest are in the Catholic systemic primary school system.
The reform provides flexibility for each jurisdiction to tailor the resourcing model to its specific need. The ACT will be doing that. We will be ensuring that the needs-based loadings applied to such things as disability and English as a second language reflect our local circumstances and our priorities. This means that for the 35 schools, especially those residing close to the SRS line, movements in loading and other variables could influence where they lie relative to the resourcing standard. But all ACT schools will benefit from the certainty of fixed indexation and the ambitious reform agenda.
It does lock in certainty for schools, so for schools which are making decisions now these will come into effect from 1 January 2014. Unfortunately, because of the effects of other jurisdictions’ cuts to their education budgets, which were impacting on the amount of indexation that was going to flow through to all schools here, this has locked in funding certainty at a minimum of three per cent indexation from the ACT government and 4.7 per cent from the commonwealth.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, what are the details of the funding arrangement for the centre for quality teaching and learning, announced at the same time, and what impact will this centre have on improving opportunities for our teaching workforce?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Gentleman, could you repeat the question please?
MR GENTLEMAN: Yes. My question is: what are the details of the funding arrangement for the centre for quality teaching and learning that was announced at the same time, and what impact will this centre have on improving opportunities for our teaching workforce?
MADAM SPEAKER: I am struggling here, Mr Gentleman, because the initial question and the supplementary question were about the national education reform agreement, the funding arrangements for the agreement and how many schools met the resourcing standard. I am struggling to see—
Mr Gentleman: Indeed, the—
MADAM SPEAKER: Just let me finish my sentence. I am struggling to see how your question is in order because it seems to be about something completely different.
Mr Barr: Madam Speaker, you may not have followed the announcement closely, but part of the national education funding agreement for the ACT that the Prime Minister announced at the same press conference was this facility at the University of Canberra.
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