9 February 2007
”The future of education in this country is indeed bleak” said Lynne Rolley Federal Secretary of the Independent Education Union of Australia, commenting on John Howard’s launching of Kevin Donnelly’s book ”Dumbing Down”.
“For him to give the authority of his position as Prime Minister to someone who relentlessly criticises the country’s teaching profession is disgraceful” said Ms Rolley.
“Donnelly’s back to basics agenda, strongly supported by the Prime Minister is not the direction of a modern twenty-first century schooling system.
It is backward looking and reflects this government’s failure to prepare Australia’s young people for the creative and competitive demands of the twenty-first century” she said.
“Business and industry are strongly lamenting the skills shortages, schools cannot find Maths and Science teachers and increasingly teachers remain in the profession for shorter periods of time. The management and planning by this government of education is appalling.
At this point in time countries such as Singapore, China and India are surging ahead and pouring resources into education. They hold the highest regard for their teachers and academics and this high regard and trust of their educators will give them the edge over Australia in the end.
This government’s ongoing criticism of teachers and schools is not the leadership we need. It is divisive and destructive. Australian students, their teachers and the Australian community deserve better.”
Contact details
Lynne Rolley
Federal Secretary
Ph: 03 9254 1830
Fax: 03 9254 1835
ieu@ieu.org.au