LABOR TO HOLD NATIONAL SCHOOLS FORUM

Labor will hold a National Schools Forum to hear from parents, teachers, principals, and academics about what works best to improve schools and student results.

 

I will be hosting the Forum at Melbourne University on November 20.  It will be opened by the Labor Leader, Bill Shorten, and the Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, James Merlino.

 

Labor’s commitment to restore every dollar of the $17 billion the Liberals have cut from schools is important, but we want make sure that investment is used to get the biggest improvements for our children in the classroom.

 

Under the Liberals, there is much less money for schools, and no plan to improve them - not one more kid graduating high school, no improvement in literacy and numeracy, or teaching quality.

 

In government, Labor negotiated a plan with the states and territories (including agreed reforms, targets, and goals) to improve schools. Labor also enshrined some of the targets and goals in federal law.

 

In the last few years the Liberals have scrapped the plan Labor negotiated with the states to improve schools.  The Liberals have removed targets and goals for school improvement from federal law too.

 

Labor believes every Australian child deserves a quality education that allows them to make the most of their talents.

 

We want all Australian schools to be great schools, where children make strong progress each and every year.

 

Labor believes that starts with proper funding for schools.  But we must also focus on the other changes we need to ensure Australia has a world class school education system, where a child’s postcode does not determine their future.

 

That’s why the Forum will identify and discuss the changes needed to ensure excellence, tackle educational disadvantage, and make certain all Australian children leave school with the skills they need to participate in their community, and in our changing economy.