$50 million furthers Labor’s commitment to quality education

A re-elected Labor team will invest $50 million over four years to make the ACT’s education system even better – including providing smaller classes and more teachers across all years of schooling.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and Education Minister Andrew Barr released the policy at Canberra’s newest school, Harrison Primary.

A re-elected ACT Labor Government will build on its achievements in education with $50 million in new funding over the next four years. The policy focuses on 13 key areas:

• More teachers and smaller class sizes – across all years of schooling
• Ensuring the best teachers in our classrooms
• Renewing our public schools
• Ensuring the ACT continues to lead the nation in education ICT
• Getting back to basics – reading, writing and maths
• Supporting gifted and talented students
• Supporting languages education
• Supporting innovation in our secondary schools
• Increasing support for school‐based apprentices
• Ensuring the best education in the early years
• Increasing administrative support in schools – allowing teachers to focus on teaching rather than administration
• Strengthening the involvement of parents and carers in our schools; and
• Increasing support for students in non‐government schools.

“There is nothing more important than our children’s future and ACT Labor is committed to providing all Canberra’s children with the best education possible, no matter where they live or what their background,” Mr Stanhope said.

“We have increased investment in education by more than 40 per cent since being elected and we have invested a record $350 million in building new and upgrading every public school. We have already invested in lowering class sizes in the important years of schooling and to improving the quality of our teachers.

“A re-elected Labor team will now build on our record by reducing average class sizes to 21 or lower in every year of schooling. We have already reduced class sizes to 21 in all government schools in the important early years and our commitment is to smaller class sizes for children of all ages.

“We will also ensure our teachers are able to concentrate on the most important part of their job – teaching our children – through better support in schools and through continued investment in quality teaching.

“The philosophy behind Labor’s education policy is simple - smaller class sizes and the best teachers - and that is what ACT Labor is delivering."

Mr Barr said Labor’s policy is a comprehensive package that will benefit students, parents, carers, teachers and schools, rather than just focusing on one area of education.

"ACT Labor has a great record of delivering the best education possible to Canberra's students and we are committed to further improving our education system," Mr Barr said.

"That is why Labor is building better schools and investing in smaller class sizes, the best teachers and new and improved facilities ‐ for a better future for all our children.

"We are also committed to reducing the gap between the highest and lowest performing students in our schools with our $11.8 million investment in literacy and numeracy teachers and the extra help we will provide to students with English as a second language. We will also support our highest achievers, with a package designed to assist gifted and talented students, their parents and teachers.

"In preparing our students for life in the 21st century, we will build on our already significant investment in ICT and languages, to ensure ACT schools continue to lead the nation and that our students are well placed for life after school.

"We will also enter into partnerships with the University of Canberra to ensure our future teachers are well trained in the use of ICT and in the teaching of reading and writing."

Mr Stanhope said this massive investment in the education of Canberra’s children is fully funded and costed and is only possible because of the responsible economic management of ACT Labor Government

“ACT Labor’s responsible economic management has put the ACT Government’s finances on a sustainable footing, allowing Labor to make this commitment to Canberra’s students and their families.

“Only the ACT Labor team has both the record of responsible financial management and the commitment to the education of Canberra’s children that will see this $50 million investment become a reality.” Mr Stanhope said.