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Education

Applying the Blowtorch

Veronica Apap reports on how teachers are planning to elevate education in the upcoming federal campaign.

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Some might say the NSW Teachers Federation are turning up the heat on the government. Sue Simpson, the president of the federation, referred to it as a blowtorch.

Education is always an issue at election time. This year, the federation intends to make public education an issue that burns Howard badly.

"State and federal governments are only looking at the short term issues from election to election, we need long term planning," said Maree O'Halloran from the NSW Teachers Federation. This long term planning has taken the form of the Vinson Inquiry. "Rather than making changes without strategic planning, we'd like to develop a strategy to create a long term plan," O'Halloran said.

There has not been an independent inquiry into public education since the

Wyndham Inquiry, 50 years ago. The Vinson Inquiry is different. It has not been funded by the government. The $500,000 needed to run it will come from the Parents and Citizens Association and teachers from the Public Education Fund. It is an independent inquiry run by an autonomous team.

So far the inquiry has received 200 formal submission, more by email and the closing date is not until the 15th of October. The purpose of the inquiry was to allow anyone with an interest in public education to have their say. Submissions have been received from the Salvation Army, the Wayside Chapel and disability groups as well as parents and teachers.

"We hope to achieve new ways of making public policy," said O'Halloren, who is on the committee management. "We want teachers and parents to have a say." The issues raised so far have included class sizes, types of curriculum, the integration of students with special needs, and of course resources.

When the findings are released in September next year, O'Halloran hopes they will offer not only a vision and direction for public education but also a heated message. "We hope we can convince the government that people want the state system to be well funded," she said.

5000 people showed their support for public education at a convention in the Superdome earlier this month. "The convention was fantastically successful. We heard from all the major political parties," said O'Halloran. Kim Beazley, leader of the opposition was among the speakers.

The ALP has formed a National Public Education Alliance. The Alliance includes federal, state and territory parties around the country. In a statement released on the 8th of September, Beazley said the aim of the alliance is to increase resources in real terms over the next decade, improve the quality of teaching and "end the cycle of blame shifting that holds back real progress in improving our public schools."

The government also sent a spokesperson to the convention. Backbencher Ross Cameron. He stood in stark contrast to the leader of the Opposition and the Greens. "The fact that the government sent a backbencher means that Howard and Kemp weren't prepared to face 5000 people. They treated it with contempt," O'Halloran said.

The Liberal government has a record of funding private schools, while only giving public education minor increases. "The government has simply said it will continue to fund private schools over public schools," O'Halloran said.

The Australian Democrats policy states that they oppose the "use of 'voluntary' school fees to provide core education services and facilities." They want the budget for public education to be increased by $1 billion a year to improve teaching, guarantee literacy levels and increase resources for students with special needs and IT.

The Greens policy supports the idea of allowing parents, citizens, teachers and academic and student unions to play a significant role in setting the direction, curriculum and values of public education.

The Teachers Federation do not endorse any political party, but they are encouraging people to "vote down the coalition government," said O'Halloran.

The heat of the Vinson Inquiry is not only directed at the federal level. The report will be released in September 2002. "It will be six months before a state election, so the findings will have more impact on the state government," O'Halloran said.

About 70 per cent of students are educated at public schools. Their combined might could mean a huge blowtorch at any polling booth.

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  Issue 114 contents

»	Corporate IT Training in Labor's Sights
»	Ansett Battle Moves to Top End of Town
»	Ansett Families Jeer Howard The Saboteur
»	Ansett Workers Hit the Hustings
»	Email Bullies in Medibank Pay-Back
»	Unions to Campaign Against Workplace Racism
»	WorkCover's Adverts 'Devoid of Meaning'
»	Principals Warn Of Critical Shortage
»	Nurses Release Federal Policy Proposals
»	The Aged Care Monster
»	IT Workers Get Union Voice
»	New Partnership for Sustainable Energy Industry
»	One Hundred Strike Over Crane Accident
»	CEPU Official for Telstra Board
»	Qld Casual Workers Pay Increases
»	The Workers United, Need a New Slogan!
»	Activists Notebook
»	Vale: Frank Belan

»	The Soapbox
»	Sport
»	Trades Hall
»	Tool Shed

»	The President and the Terrorist
»	Confessions of a Grand Final Loser
»	A Plan for Australia
»	Sleeping on the Job

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