Federal Coalition avoids scrutiny of education proposals
Despite an election being called over 5 weeks ago, the Liberal National Party Coalition has waited until the day before the election to confirm details of their education proposals.
With limited media coverage and opportunity for voters to now assess the Coalition’s various positions, IEU members and our school communities will be rightly concerned with the possible impact of any untested, last-minute proposals.
Voice of the profession sidelined and ignored
As with previous education statements made by the Coalition during the election, the final policies lack specific detail and have been developed without consultation with the teaching profession.
To announce such sweeping changes the day before the election, including reference to copying a student behaviour initiative developed overseas that was deemed largely ineffective, and falsely claiming yet again that teachers are indoctrinating students, is a huge red flag that is of serious concern to the profession.
The Coalition’s plans focus heavily on student behaviour issues and an expectation that teachers alone can address serious systemic and complex societal issues. The policy fails to acknowledge the role of the wider community in addressing poor behaviour by young people. Already overburdened teachers and school leaders cannot resolve these societal issues in a vacuum.
Schools deserved more than being an election afterthought
The last-minute timing, lack of detail and failure to speak directly with the teaching profession in drafting education policies is yet another failure of the Coalition this election.
Our teachers, school leaders and students deserved a more considered and respectful education plan from the opposition.
Authorised by Brad Hayes, Independent Education Union of Australia, 3-5 Phipps Close, Deakin, ACT 2600