IEUA Media Release

Building a Quality Education Plan

“The IEUA’s national seminar welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Gillard’s comments on working cooperatively with stakeholders and resourcing education to provide opportunities to enhance quality teaching” said Independent Education Union Federal Secretary Chris Watt.

The Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard opened the IEUA seminar being held on Thursday and Friday, 2 and 3 April, where she provided the keynote address.

“The IEUA is pleased that the federal government has been prepared to be inclusive of teachers and education staff and in particular the education unions.”

“The federal government’s resourcing of the National Partnership Agreements can be taken to be a commitment of good faith, and the IEUA’s Quality Teaching Framework launched today will provide a considered and professional foundation on which to develop the strategies that would ensure that these resources are sensibly and strategically employed” said Mr Watt.

“The IEUA recognizes the critical role played in schools by highly accomplished teachers and school leaders.  Accordingly the IEUA has long supported the development of integrated career structures to support, nurture and recognise the profession to ensure the delivery of high quality education,” he said.

The IEUA also welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister’s comments on school funding.

“For a long time the IEUA has argued for the need for greater transparency in the way in which schools are funded nationally, both government and non-government.  The IEUA believes that the review of school funding over the next four years should ensure that Australia’s education systems are comprehensive and properly resourced so that the MCEETYA Goals of Schooling are met, no matter where students live or which school they go to” said Mr Watt.

”The IEUA looks forward to continuing to participate in the conversation on quality education in Australia.”

Contact:

Chris Watt

Federal Secretary Independent Education Union

Ph        (02) 6273 3107                         0419 259 143