Education Matters
Move of Year 7 buildings to have BER exemption
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 10:56
The Bligh Government has quietly provided exemption from local planning laws for government, independent and catholic schools that construct buildings to accommodate the move of Year 7.
The last time these extraordinary powers were granted was for the rapid construction of BER projects (school hall projects).
While it might be quite necessary to assist senior schools to expand their footprint and construct new buildings, it is a power that needs to be used with caution.
It is perhaps notable that this regulation was slipped through quietly with almost no public discussion, despite the same provisions during the BER having been quite controversial.
It is to be hoped that schools using these powers will still respect the rights of their local communities and where possible consult and accommodate.
LNP Release Independent Public Schools Policy
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 10:41
29 Nov 2011
MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST
Education Reform
Dr FLEGG (Moggill—LNP) (11.28 am): The LNP is determined to see Queensland at the top of education. We just cannot sit around doing the same old thing, coming near the bottom of the class, and expect that, by doing the same old thing, suddenly things will improve. Click here to read more.
Productivity Commission Rings Warning Bells on Childcare Changes
Monday, 24 October 2011 13:06
The Productivity Commission released a draft of a review of Early Childhood Education and Care in Australia and rings some distinct alarm bells.
In particular, it points out that the government schedule for implementation of new qualifications is “optimistic”. In fact, it indicates that the number of trained positions within early childhood centres could not be met without government providing “waivers” on some of the qualification requirements. It points out that it will take “some time” (read “years”) for the vocational training system to produce the required number of staff to meet the higher qualification thresholds.Read more: Productivity Commission Rings Warning Bells on Childcare Changes
Does politics belong in the school curriculum?
Friday, 14 October 2011 10:59
The Queensland English curriculum for 2012 (the beginning of the National Curriculum in that subject) contained a five week study of important speeches. Alongside the speech by Martin Luther King 'I had a dream' the designers of the curriculum amazingly included Anna Bligh’s speech made during the Queensland floods.
I have deep concerns about this. The particular speech will almost certainly feature strongly in the Labor Party election campaign. At the same time it was proposed for inclusion in the school curriculum.Win for Chapel Hill State School
Monday, 10 October 2011 14:50
Readers will recall that I made a vigorous appeal on behalf of parents of the Chapel Hill State School for a major safety upgrade of the school.
Over 300 parents representing most families in the school also signed a petition.
After a tour of the school, at the invitation of parents, I was shocked to see a major water course unfenced, steep embankments unfenced, sharp objects protruding into child activity areas, so many trip hazards that they were uncountable, a major entry to the school from Tinbeerwah Place that was so rough it could not be entered with a pram or by elderly people and a huge number of trees dropping branches into children’s play areas.More Articles...
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