THE HON WARREN SNOWDON MP
Member for Lingiari
Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery
8 August 2010
Member for Lingiari Warren Snowdon said the next steps for school reform, announced today, will make every school in Lingiari a great school.
“The Gillard Labor Government is committed to investing in our schools to provide more opportunities in education,” Mr Snowdon said.
Mr Snowdon welcomed the four additional measures announced today.
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A national online assessment and learning bank – made possible through the National Broadband Network – to allow parents to help their kids with homework and contribute to their progress at school.
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New incentives for schools to improve school attendance and student performance through the Rewards for School Improvement program, with rewards of $75,000 for primary schools and $100,000 for secondary schools that demonstrate the greatest improvement in their students’ learning.
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For the first time, Australian students will have access to a national educational credential of international standing – the Australian Baccalaureate.
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Great teachers will be rewarded through a national system of performance bonus payments for classroom teachers. Teachers will receive the bonus for the first time based on their performance in the 2013 school year, with funding substantial enough to enable a 10 per cent salary bonus to the top 10 per cent of teachers. Payments will be made in two instalments in the year following assessment.
“There is a stark choice in two weeks’ time between Federal Labor which is investing in our schools, and the Coalition, which is making education cuts,” Mr Snowdon said.
“These latest Federal Labor reforms will help parents support their kids and practice what they learn at school, as well as recognise the great job our teachers do.
“In contrast, Tony Abbott would scrap the computers in schools program and Trade Training Centres.”
Tony Abbott is a risk to our schools – he would cut computers from local high schools, and cut funding for libraries, classrooms and halls all across the Territory.
The Gillard Labor Government is putting school reform at the top of its priorities for economic reform.
These are historic economic reforms that will pay dividends for decades to come, as today’s kids grow up and enter the workforce.
A re-elected Gillard Labor Government will provide $482.1 million for these new commitments over the forward estimates period.
Funding will be fully offset over the forward estimates, consistent with Federal Labor’s commitment to return the budget to surplus in 2013, three years ahead of schedule.
MEDIA CONTACT: ALICE PLATE (0400 045 999)