Today I joined the Catholic Education Office and the Association of Independent Schools to launch a new plan and partnership to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities in all ACT schools.
The strategic plans launched this morning will guide us as we take on the most important of challenges, making sure every young Canberran gets an education that helps them reach their potential.
If an education system is working properly every student will find education a challenge. But some kids face special challenges when it comes to education and none more so than those with disabilities.
Just as they face extra challenges, and have to work harder, so must all of us involved in education. That’s why I am very pleased the Catholic Education Office and the Association of Independent Schools will join with the ACT Government to work more closely together for the benefit of students with disabilities in the ACT.
Last year I commissioned Professor Tony Shaddock to conduct an in-depth review into disability education in the Territory. The Shaddock Review now forms a sound basis for long-term planning for disability education.
The contribution made by the CEO and the AIS to the Shaddock Review, and in the development of the strategic plans we launch today, has set a firm foundation for cooperation in the area of special education. One of the key options within the Review was ‘cross-sectoral collaboration’, under which we can all learn from each other’s schools, share what’s been learned and work more closely together to turn possible failures into outstanding successes.
This is important because we all face the same challenge in disability education, that being how to get better results for students with the resources available. In the last five years the number of students accessing disability programs in ACT public schools rose by over 12 per cent. I’m sure there are similar patterns in non-government schools. But unfortunately resources available for disability education are not unlimited.
This is why a strong partnership between government and non-government school systems is so important. And that’s why I established the new Cross-Sectoral Disability Education Steering Group, to draw on the experiences of all schools and apply the lessons for the benefit of students.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the AIS, CEO and the Department of Education and Training for their hard work and dedication on this Group and to students with a disability in all ACT schools.
The Strategy Excellence in Disability Education Strategic Plan 2010-2013 can be found at www.det.act.gov.au
Authorised by A.Barr, Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch), 21 Torrens Street, Braddon, 2612. Site by Kudasai
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