Towards 2020 no solution
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey, in the ACT Legislative Assembly today, has called for real investment in public education that addresses the achievement gap faced by ACT school students.
“Most students in the ACT do well, but some are getting left behind” Dr Foskey said today.
“And the Towards 2020 program, which has destroyed so many school communities, has not addressed the problem.”
“The ACT is almost the worst in Australia in terms of achievement gap across all our schools. And the situation is not getting better.”
“The ACT also has the highest proportion of school students going to non government schools.”
“The disaster of the Towards 2020 program has not resulted in more students in the ACT government system nor has it delivered innovative ways of engaging those students at risk of falling behind. It has simply burnt any trust ACT parents and students might have had in the ACT Government.”
“Recent events at Lyons Primary School have made it clear that the ACT Education Department still doesn’t know how to put students and parents first.”
“Perhaps that accounts for the failure of our system to ensure that resources are going to those students who need it most.”
“If the Greens have the balance of power after the October election we expect to see the Towards 2020 plan revisited, with a focus on needs based funding and a stronger relationships with communities.”
