Central Coast Council P&C (CCCP&C) has welcomed news that all NSW public schools will benefit from high quality support aimed at improving educational outcomes for their students, with a strong focus on lifting reading and numeracy results.
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the targeted support, a central aspect of the School Success Model, means schools receive high impact programs and resources tailored to their unique needs.
“The success of every student is at the heart of the NSW education system, which is why it’s so important we provide better support for all schools, and especially those that need it most,” she said.
“Ultimately the model holds every level of the Department, from the Secretary to executives to directors and principals, accountable and responsible for each and every one of our NSW public school students receiving the best educational outcomes possible.”
Mitchell said support would range from looking at whether teaching practices and learning programs reflect evidence-based best practice to exploring the best use of a school’s unspent additional funding according to educational need.
“Support is also being offered in the areas of behaviour, Aboriginal HSC attainment, attendance and financial management,” she said.
CCCP&C spokesperson, Sharryn Brownlee, said parents were pleased to see there will be targeted help for schools to achieve better outcomes for students.
“It is good that the State Government clearly recognises that more needs to be done to support NSW government schools,” Brownlee said.
She said there was widespread concern that the under-investment in schools is showing in student results.
“The gaps in education attainment are becoming wider and the skills shortages are a direct result of a lack of investment by the Federal Government who did not follow the recommendation of their own Gonski review into education,” she said.
“NSW has attempted to cover the lack of federal funds but it is not possible and P&Cs want the Federal Governments to honour earlier promises of full implementation of business and industry leader David Gonski’s review.
“This generation of young people should not have to suffer as all students should have the investment of taxpayer funds needed to stop Australia falling behind other countries where expenditure is distributed much more equitably.”
Terry Collins