'Pathways to Tertiary' for students with disabilities
Are you supporting a young person living with disability, chronic illness or a mental health condition who is about to transition out of secondary education into tertiary education?
Do you want to learn about the different pathways into tertiary education available?
Hear directly from University and TAFE staff, NDCOs, and other industry experts to help you develop your knowledge and skills to support a smoother transition into tertiary education for your young person with disability.
Read more: 'Pathways to Tertiary' for students with disabilities
School maintenance boost
Education Minister James Merlino has announced a $10.4 million funding package for much-needed maintenance to 230 Victorian schools.
The funding will be used for a range of maintenance work such as plumbing, painting, resurfacing floors and replacing windows, as well as external landscaping works including pathways and lighting.
- See the Minister's announcement
- Download a list of schools receiving funding
- Read the Herald-Sun report (only available if you have a subscription)
Are the "school funding wars" over?
Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge recently commented that "the school funding wars are over."
According to this article in The Guardian, "The reality of his strange declaration of victory is seven-and-a-half-years of neglect." The article details how public schools have been denied billions of needed funding over four years as the federal Coalition government systematically entrenched the underfunding of public schools.
Parent payments: PV media comment
The Age reported today that Victorian state school families spent more than $400 million last year in “parent payments” on education essentials. This is equal to $619 in parental payments per child every year. The article also points out that schools in socio-econonically advantaged areas are able to collect much more in parent payments than those in disadvantaged areas.
PV Executive Officer Gail McHardy is quoted in the article. Gail said, “It shouldn’t be about their capacity to pay. It should be about how they can give children a quality education to meet their potential, without that pressure of having capacity to pay.”
Gail also commented on the time and effort school leaders put into fundraising for educational basics. “They have got enough to do: their priority is to teach our kids," she said.
Schoolyard safety
A recent article in the Herald-Sun is a timely reminder of schools' and parents' responsibility to keep children safe on play equipment.
According to the article, more than 1,000 primary school students injure themselves in the schoolyard each year, with monkey-bars and climbing frames causing 70 per cent of injuries.
PV Executive Officer Gail McHardy is quoted in the article. Gail said everyone had a responsibility to keep children safe. “Parents need to familiarise their children where possible to play safe on equipment at home, before and after school,” she said.
Masks at school: PV media comment
The Herald-Sun reports today that students returning to school this week have been told to carry a mask at all times, but they will only be “recommended” when in class.
According to the article, Education Minister James Merlino on Thursday confirmed the controversial coverings would not be “mandatory in schools, but it’s recommended if you can’t maintain social distancing”.
PV Executive Officer Gail McHardy is quoted in the article. Gail said communication between the government, schools and parents on masks had been clear.
She said the requirements were “no different to what’s out in the wider community”.
Research: Public schools are just as good as private
New research shows that public schools do just as well as private schools, after differences in socio-economic background of students are considered. A recent study published by reseearchers at the University of New England found that, after taking account of the different socio-economic background of students, private schools are not associated with higher average student achievement in standardized literacy and numeracy tests at any grade. Nor do private schools provide greater progress in reading and numeracy from grade 3 through grade 9.
Save Our Schools has published the details and a link to the full study report on its website.
Effect of the lockdown on children: PV media comment
According to a report on 3AW, new research has found that two thirds of Victorian parents are worried about their child’s education after the state’s extended lockdown.
An Australian National University study found 43 per cent of parents surveyed in other states, which did not experience such lengthy school shutdowns, are concerned about their child’s learning.
PV Execuitve Office Gail McHardy was interviewed by 3AW's Tony Jones on Friday about this topic. The conversation ranged over the differing impact of the pandemic on different families, the way teachers and parents managed to be adaptable in difficult circumstances, and what it means for the future. Gail emphasised the importance of strong relationships between schools and families - where those are working well, both schools and families have benefited.
School banking to be banned in Victoria
Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that school banking programs will be banned in Victoria.
Read the Premier's announcement.
Details and background are covered in this article on the ABC website.
There's also a commentary on the decision from the Herald-Sun's 'barefoot investor' Scott Pape, but it is only available to Herald-Sun subscribers. Scott describes the decision to ban school banking as a "massive step forward" and goes on to say, "For far too long schools have outsourced the teaching of essential financial life skills to banks who have used it as an advertising play. But that stops now and the real education begins."
State Budget: PV comment
This media release from Parents Victoria gives our reaction to Tuesday's State Budget.
Budget is great news for our public schools
Parents Victoria (PV) advocates for fair, simple and transparent funding of State Schools because the current school funding model does not provide adequately for our most vulnerable students.
PV is mindful the driving force of yesterday’s budget is predominantly to get the Victorian economy going again and create jobs for all Victorian workers impacted by the pandemic.
This greater investment in public schools is heartening and in keeping with PV's vision "A fully supported Victorian public education system meeting the needs of every student, where parents’ voices are sought, heard and valued” said PV’s Executive Officer, Gail McHardy.
