Blair’s Model in Victoria?
Those of us familiar with the changes in the UK under Tony Blairs “Education, Education, Education” world view, will recognise elements of this proposal. This will be something that we should watch very closely.
In a profound and challenging move in State Education, Carolin Milburn reports in todays Saturday “Age Online” that some state schools will be closed and their sites sold under a Bracks Government plan to fund major upgrades of schools.
The report goes on to say:
The draft policy is a dramatic departure from current practices where government schools get extra money to improve facilities or build new ones.
For the first time in Victoria’s 130-year history of state education, government spending on school infrastructure will depend on schools raising student achievement levels. The draft policy says the new method of funding was required to narrow the gap between underperforming and high-achieving schools. If schools want money for capital works they must first prove to the education department they have a plan to lift student results, according to the policy document, Capital Investment and Access Planning Policy.
The Honourable Lynne Kosky, Minister for Education and Training was reported as saying she was in the final stages of consulting leading groups representing teachers, parents, school councils and principals and that she will release the policy within two weeks.
For full details, follow this link the The Age Newspaper Online.[Login may be required]
[Source: theage.com.au]
