Kambah Cluster Meeting 25 July
////School Closure Figures in Tatters
//The Save Our Schools group says that the two weeks of school closure consultations and the Budget Estimates hearings have shown that the Government’s figures are in tatters.
SOS spokesperson, Dr. Ian Morgan, said that the Stanhope Government has failed to make critical savings data available and it has been forced to admit that other figures are fundamentally flawed and now has to revise them. Continue reading “School Closure Figures in Tatters”
Public Education Under Attack
//The dispute between the ACT Government and teachers is getting worse!
The 6 June Budget, crafted by Chief Minister and Treasurer Jon Stanhope, took the knife to jobs and services across the ACT public sector. The public school system was not immune from the knife as the ACT Government targeted cuts of at least 120 teaching positions in secondary schools, 15 teaching positions in primary schools and 10 itinerant staff across the system. It also flagged the loss of 90 support staff in the education bureaucracy. The announcement of 39 potential preschool and school closures has sent many school communities into a fury, and the ad hoc and destructive nature of many of the proposals has been scrutinised in the media and at public meetings. Continue reading “Public Education Under Attack”
Stanhope’s school closures figures are already in tatters
//Towards the end of the “consultation” meetings, the Stanhope Government has already been forced to admit that its figures on the school closure proposals are fundamentally flawed. Continue reading “Stanhope’s school closures figures are already in tatters”
Rally Against Stanhope Attack on Schools
//Who is counting the numbers?
//Planning on going to a community forum? -– bring your own megaphone -– the microphones never work!
Don’t get too exited though, even if your question is heard, it doesn’t mean it will be answered.
Some very good questions and concerns were raised at the community forum at Copland College on Monday evening, unfortunately we heard not much more than the rhetoric that has abounded in all of the government documentation on 2020 so far.
Continue reading “Who is counting the numbers?”Broken Promises, or Not?
//The Minister for Education, Mr. Andrew Barr, has been telling regional consultation meetings that the Government did not promise that it would not close schools during its term of office.
Let the record speak for itself. Continue reading “Broken Promises, or Not?”
Govt. Figures Challenged by Public Finance Expert
//The ACT Government’s savings estimates from school closures have been challenged by a leading expert in public finance. Ian McAuley, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Sector Finance at the University of Canberra, says that the figures presented by the Government are unduly narrow and ignore costs that will be borne by the community. Continue reading “Govt. Figures Challenged by Public Finance Expert”
Minister Says He Will Provide Savings Estimates
//The Minister for Education told the Weston Creek regional consultation meeting held at Stromlo HS on 21 June that he will provide the Government’s estimates of savings from school closures for each school in the ACT proposed for closure. He also committed the Government to providing a break up of the savings according to the major components in each case. He told the meeting that the major components of savings were from site-based salaries such as those of the principal and bursar; utilities costs such as water, telecommunications, electricity and heating; and maintenance. Continue reading “Minister Says He Will Provide Savings Estimates”
Stanhope betrays government schools
//The Stanhope Government has broken two specific election commitments in the ACT Budget. Despite promises of no school closures, it proposes to close nearly 25% of preschools and schools. Despite an election commitment of $12 million to increase numbers of teachers in high schools, the Budget means the loss of around 160 teachers. Continue reading “Stanhope betrays government schools”