SA could hire 645 new teachers under $14bn federal Labor plan

SOUTH Australia could employ 645 new teachers, under a $14 billion plan announced today that the federal Opposition says will boost state schools across the country.

• Kids to stay in preschool longer under Labor plan
• State Budget features big spending on school upgrades
• Schools funding could be based on parents’ incomes

SOUTH Australia could employ 645 new teachers, under a $14 billion plan announced today that the federal Opposition says will boost state schools across the country.

The investment in SA would mean state schools could employ 645 new teachers, or more than 1000 teacher’s aides, in the first three years of the funding, which would start in 2020.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will promise the record investment if a Labor government is elected in a bid to make the nation’s state schools the best in the world.

South Australia could employ 645 new teachers under a $14 billion plan announced today that the federal Opposition.

Mr Shorten will reveal that his education cash-splash would be contingent on State Government investment and a willingness to sign up to a national plan to improve schools.

Mr Shorten, who this week announced Labor’s five-point “fair-go” agenda, said more resources for schools, better trained teachers and more one-on-one attention for students was at the centre of his plan. “I know the value of a great education because I’ve seen how it changes lives,” Mr Shorten said.

“Improving our school results will require more support, more resources and ultimately, more funding. Labor believes Australian schools should be the best in the world.”

South Australia has been promised $265 million between 2020-22 of the extra $14 billion to be injected in public schools over the next decade.

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten

The boost is expected to deliver more individual attention for students, and help with the basics such as reading, writing, maths, and science.

Mr Shorten said it would also allow public schools to offer a broader range of subjects including languages, coding, the arts, and vocational education. “I’m passionate about building an education system that gives every child in every school the best chance at life,” he said.

“Labor wants every public school to reach 100 per cent of its fair funding level, and we will work with the states and territories to achieve this.”

Two in three students across Australia attend public schools, including 84 per cent of indigenous children, 82 per cent of children from low-income families, and 74 per cent of children with disabilities.

Education has fast become the focus of Labor’s federal election campaign.

Last week, it announced it would extend preschool to three-year-olds and give 10,000 fee-free TAFE places for early education students.

The policies were well received but state Education Minister John Gardner said the preschool provision was estimated to cost SA more than $100 million a year without capital works.

He said it was unclear how much of that cost would be borne by taxpayers.

Originally published as SA could hire 645 new teachers under $14bn federal Labor plan