#ausvotes

ALP Education Policy

• Summary

  The vision of the ALP lies in setting international standards of quality education in Australia. A new generation of empowered Australians will graduate from this system by 2025, and the benefits will endure throughout the 21st Century. The Education Tax Rebate is extended to include school uniforms, and a performance based system is instituted to monitor students, teachers and schools. Of note is the incorporation of experts in various other fields into teaching within the system. While 686 000 computers are to be provided to secondary students under the Computers in Schools program, less than half of them have been rolled out.

  
  

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  The ALP believes that education as an essential part of microeconomic reform is the key to unlocking an individual’s potential, and to unlocking Australia’s future. Through education our economy will have enduring returns well into the future, diverse participation at high levels to increase our economic productivity, and maintain our competitiveness internationally as one of the best educators in the world. The introduction of an Australian Baccalaureate to provide an International qualification alongside our traditional secondary school curriculum, will further this objective. Increased funding for universities will ensure quality research and teaching, and ensure the ALP target of having 40% of 25-34 year olds at Bachelor levels of tertiary qualification by 2025.

  
  

  An online, dynamic, National Curriculum has been introduced to revive a foundation of relevance based on English, Maths, Science and History. These core subjects will individually rely on an emphasis toward technological advances, accuracy and perspective in an international context. Every school in Australia will provide this high standard of education to children, and the education system will be consistent throughout Australia. Standards of achievement will be established. Every parent, child, and teacher will be aware of the standard to be maintained at any particular level of schooling. A digital platform offering diagnostic assessment of students will interact with the National Curriculum to inform students, teachers and parents, and to develop specialised learning programs where appropriate. Access to this online digital environment will be made available to all parents and teachers.

  
  

  With a view for this 21st Century, the ALP recognise that our 5 year olds will be employed in its later decades, and have invested in our human capital by doubling funding for Australian schools. This funding has been implemented through the Building the Education Revolution (BER) and modernising of infrastructure, through Trade Training Centres which give students a chance to learn a trade, and increasing the quality of our teaching through initiatives such as MySchool.com.

  
  

  MySchool.com provides parents with a report card on every school in the nation. The results of the national Literacy & Numeracy test (NAPLAN) are published in order to allow comparison between each Australian school. This major reform provides transparency to the education system and allows differentiation between schools that are performing and schools that are struggling. Accordingly, resources can be deployed to assist reparation to a high standard of educational delivery, and the practices of high achieving schools will be used to improve educational policy.

  
  

  Australia’s teachers will be motivated to achieve their very best through a performance management scheme, and bonuses of up to $8 000 paid to the top performers. Performance will be assessed upon criteria that include student achievement, contribution to the school community, support to other teachers, and extra-curricular contributions as well as student support.

  
  

  The very best teachers will be attracted to the Australian Education System. Up until now many experienced professional have avoided teaching due to the entry qualification barriers that exist to the profession. The ALP scheme will provide intensive 8 week training to professionals in all areas of industry and practice, who can then be employed within the education system. Professionals intent on sharing their knowledge with subsequent generations, will in this way add the very best of Australian knowhow to our education system and for our children’s future benefit.

  
  

  The ALP will localise administration and control of schools, to allow principals, parents and the school community to undertake strategic planning including school budgets, staffing issues and priorities that are right for their particular school. Initially the government will provide a specific staffing budget, but in time this will become the responsibility of each school as one line funding is extended. Specific school functions will be decided upon application to an education authority, and dependent on the schools present independence and size.

  
  

  Each school will receive training in, and funding of $40-$50k to initiate and administer these reforms. Additional funding will be provided to principals to receive training in autonomous schools governance, and performance based outcomes. Each year up to 1000 schools will receive $75k-$100k of incentives for improvements in attendance, performance in literacy and numeracy, Year 12 retention and performance, and post – school destination information.

  
  

  New legislation has been enacted that strengthens the integrity of educational providers throughout Australia. All providers will have to have education as their main purpose, and this mandate will ensure Australian institutions contribute to the international vision envisaged for high quality Australian education. Australia’s international education sector having already the benefit of the ESOS fund that guarantees course fees of international students, but will benefit further from these measures. Detainees will be provided with education and training within detention centres. This will reduce mental illness within detention centres, and improve their skills and ability when eventually residing in Australia, or even if returned to their homeland.

  
  

  As a matter of public health, sex education and its quality of delivery will be increased. The prevalence of communicable sexual disease poses a significant threat to Australians and to the taxpayer, and this form of preventative health measure will educate students and parents on issues of contraception, sexually transmitted disease and HIV in particular.

  
  

  The Educational Tax Rebate currently covers books, stationary and computer related items for students. The ALP will extend this policy to also include the cost of uniforms, and in many instances this will be considerable assistance to families getting children back to school. In order to prepare students for the future of the workforce and utilise the most modern teaching mediums available, the ALP will maintain its commitment to the Computers in Schools program and ensure every student between year 9-year 12 is provided with a computer.

  
  

  The ALP will introduce the Indigenous Education Action Plan (IEAP) that will reduce the disparity in educational participation and performance amidst our Indigenous community. The product of 4 years review, this initiative will provide employment opportunities and return equity to Indigenous Australians with access to high quality education from pre-school to tertiary level.