School upgrades to be done on ‘needs-based’ system, CLP says

SCHOOL infrastructure upgrades would be funded on a “needs-based” system under a Country Liberal Party government

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SCHOOL infrastructure upgrades would be funded on a “needs-based” system under a Country Liberal Party government, though the Opposition Leader won’t “arbitrarily” pick a number on how much spending it will commit.

The CLP’s education policy also includes the return of truancy officers to improve attendance rates in school, support for the Commonwealth’s remote attendance strategy (RSAS), and “decluttering” early learning curriculum to focus on language, literacy and numeracy.

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But Australian Education Union NT branch head Jarvis Ryan said “punitive” measures like truancy officers would get “bums on seats” but did not work if there wasn’t enough manpower to ensure the needs of these kids were met.

The CLP’s “broad plan” to improve education for kids across the Territory, released yesterday, focuses on targeting funding and infrastructure, with money to be direct to schools with high-project growth and “those with most need”.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: Che Chorley

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro would not be drawn on exactly how much the party would spend on upgrading schools if the CLP take power.

The party did promise to fast-track infrastructure projects already on the books, including for Katherine High School, Yuendumu School and Tennant Creek High School.

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The CLP would also support the continued rollout of the Families as First Teachers Program, an early childhood learning program that Labor promised to roll out to an extra four locations if they are re-elected to bring the total number to 57.

Mr Ryan said RSAS, introduced in 2014, focused on getting “bums on seats” but was coupled with a reduction in school resources, so while there was a moderate increase in attendance, this quickly dropped away when the kids’ complex needs were not met.

He said attendance rates needed to be addressed but truancy officers weren’t effective.

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