Page 46 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2019
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classrooms, new toilets, new science labs and library and classroom upgrades as well as new furniture.
The government is expanding government schools to make space for the increasing number of people who are choosing public education. The 2017-18 budget included an allocation of $24.072 million over four years to expand schools in Gungahlin with 700 places. Of this, $18.6 million is being used to expand Gold Creek School junior campus, Neville Bonner Primary School, Harrison School junior campus, Palmerston District Primary School and Franklin Early Childhood School. A year later a further $19.83 million over four years was announced in the 2018-19 budget for another 500 places in Gungahlin schools, at Gold Creek School junior campus, Neville Bonner Primary School and Amaroo School junior and senior sites as well as planning for a new school in east Gungahlin.
I am pleased that the ACT government has continued this commitment to schools in the ACT as well as the new school in Taylor, the Margaret Hendry Primary School.
MS CODY: Minister, what supports are available to make sure all students have access to a great education this year?
MS BERRY: The most critical factor in providing students with access to a great education is investment in learning professionals. I am proud of this government’s focus on respecting and empowering learning professionals in the ACT’s schools. A major pillar of the future of education strategy is to empower teachers, school leaders and other professionals to meet the learning needs of students.
In last year’s budget, $5.4 million over four years was allocated to first-phase work on empowering learning professionals in our schools. Late last year I launched two key elements of this, including a leadership plan and the affiliate schools partnership with the University of Canberra. The plan will support our high school teachers through employment of four skilled teachers with expertise in pedagogy, learning difficulties, and literacy and numeracy programming to implement a coaching and mentoring model to build teaching capacity.
The plan will also provide more opportunities and time for collaboration, training for leadership staff in data literacy in schools and funding to engage leading national and international education researchers, as well as training programs to support principal health and wellbeing through efficacy, job confidence and job satisfaction, as well as better promotion of mental health support.
This approach is based on strong evidence and research of leading education systems and improved outcomes through instructional leadership as well as enabling innovative approaches to learning and teaching.
Education Directorate—alleged bullying
MISS C BURCH: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Minister, does the department of education do regular staff surveys? If so, how frequently are these conducted?
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