Page 2829 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 16 August 2017
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It is critical that we activate STEM learning across our classrooms by giving teachers the skills they need to teach these subjects so that students get the skills they need to succeed in the future. That is why I was pleased to see that in the budget the government is investing to deliver 25 scholarships a year for Canberra teachers, particularly focusing on STEM and languages. These scholarships, worth $875,000 a year, will help teachers gain qualifications for their professional development and help create richer learning environments for Canberra children. Delivering better STEM subjects in our schools is one of the many things that the ACT government is delivering for education in this budget.
When I was at Melrose just the other month I met our award-winning Melrose High School teacher Geoff McNamara, whom the Deputy Chief Minister mentioned today, the teacher behind the MSATT telescope at Mount Stromlo. I saw firsthand the products of the school’s academic curriculum enrichment science mentors program which pairs students with some of the ACT’s top scientists. These students are doing high quality, original science, and it deserves our full support.
I asked Geoff McNamara what he needed to continue this great work, and he responded that greater time to focus on the mentors program was needed for teachers. That is why I am so glad that this budget focuses on helping teachers by funding school assistants to take the pressure off teachers and to ensure that teachers can spend more time focusing on student learning. The investment of $16 million over the forward estimates will help to reduce the administrative workload of teachers through the employment of more administrative assistants. We are providing teachers with STEM skills and we are also providing students with the latest technology-enabled learning so that every school and public high school and college has access to devices.
My electorate of Murrumbidgee has some of the fastest growing areas in Canberra, in the Molonglo Valley. In the lead-up to the election Labor promised a new school for the region, and this budget delivers on the first step of that commitment by funding the early design and scoping works for new schools in the Molonglo Valley. I am pleased that the budget invests $500,000 in the early planning of a new school in Denman Prospect.
This budget also prioritises safety for school students and sees the introduction of the school crossing supervisor pilot program, which will be introduced at 20 different crossing sites. This involves improvements to road safety around schools, such as providing bigger and better signage, dragons teeth in the road, dedicated school crossing areas and the employment of lollipop officers. $3.3 million will be invested to improve the safety of students walking and cycling to our schools.
As well as ensuring that children get to school safely, we need to make sure that the schools they are attending are safe schools. Our ACT public schools provide the fundamental right to an education for all children, no matter who they are, and ensure that they are included. I am incredibly proud to see the ACT Labor government make it clear that bigotry and homophobia have no place in classrooms in the territory and the government will continue to fund the safe schools program in our schools to support inclusive practice.
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