2013 Annual Conference
Making a Difference – From Ideas to Practice.
11, 12, 13 June 2013
Allphones Arena
Sydney Olympic Park
Please contact our Sponsorship Coordinator for the Sponsorship Prospectus, product promotion opportunities and trade booth details.
Education Partners...
Calendar
| Fri May 31, 2013 State Assembly |
| Mon Jun 10, 2013 Executive Meeting |
| Tue Jun 11, 2013 NSWSPC Annual Conference |
| Wed Jun 12, 2013 NSWSPC Annual Conference |
| Thu Jun 13, 2013 NSWSPC Annual Conference |
| Fri Jun 28, 2013 End Term 2 |
| Mon Jul 15, 2013 School Development Day |
| Tue Jul 16, 2013 Term 3 starts |
| Mon Jul 22, 2013 Executive Meeting |
| Mon Jul 29, 2013 Education Week |
|
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PREMIERThe Honourable Barry O’Farrell MP Dear Mr O’Farrell,
The NSW Education Act (1990) provides: “it is the duty of the State to ensure that every child receives an education of the highest quality”, and further: “the principal responsibility of the State in the education of children is the provision of public education”. [Part 2: “Objects of the Act”: section 4(c), (d)] It follows from its own legislation that the education of its young people is among the highest of government obligations in NSW. Therefore, the education of children should also be among its highest priorities for budgetary allocation when considering whether to give attention to matters of choices, priorities, notional budget deficits or the questionable determinations of credit rating agencies. Given that overall taxation in Australia is among the lowest per capita in the OECD in comparison to its GDP, we have to deplore any move to cut or redirect money from education. Just a few months ago, the Gonski funding review reported that education across Australia was underfunded by $6.5 billion in today's terms. The NSW share of that amount appears comparable with the amount that the government is now proposing to cut from our schools. This means that NSW public schools – already seriously underfunded – will now suffer a double hit. As the Gonski Review identified, economic success relies on educational investment and all governments need to acknowledge, accept and respond constructively to that finding. The funding cuts are directly subversive to these aims. How can the government claim that these cuts will not affect the delivery of public education? Schools maintain their high standards through a reliance on the professionalism of our teachers and the goodwill of our communities. The cuts appear to coincide with the government’s determination to pass more responsibility and the associated (mainly administrative) workload to schools. Given that Australia has one of the best-performing economies in the developed world, the Public Education Alliance doesn't believe that we should have to struggle with less funding. The history of the government's negotiations with non-government schools on this matter also raises questions about the Premier's stated commitment to the principles of the Gonski Review of school funding. We are also dismayed that, having heralded the cuts, the government very quickly made a significant concession to the non-government sector. The Public Education Alliance demands the government gives priority to our public school communities. Discussions with the Premier have given no comfort that any of these concerns have had any influence on the government’s determination to evade its legal and ethical responsibilities of providing the highest quality of Public Education to its young people who attend government schools. Lililana Mularczyk JP, President: NSW Secondary Principals’ Council Jim Cooper, President: NSW Primary Principals’ Association Cheryl McBride, President: NSW Public Schools Principal Forum Lyall Wilkinson, President: Federation of Parents and Citizens’ Associations of NSW Maurie Mulheron, President: NSW Teachers’ Federation |
