23 January 2007
The IEU welcomes the ALP commitment to education announced by Mr Kevin Rudd today and believes that the policy direction stands in stark contrast to the divisive policies of the federal government over the last decade.
“The Independent Education Union applauds the commitment given by Kevin Rudd today to properly invest in education and realise the potential of all Australian children”, said IEU Assistant Federal Secretary Chris Watt.
“Since 1996, the Howard Government’s education policies have exacerbated divisions in the Australian community. The IEU believes that over the last decade education and training policy at the federal level in Australia has lacked coherency and too often been the subject of political opportunism”, said Chris Watt.
“The IEU looks forward to dialogue with the ALP to further advance the key themes of today’s announcement and to develop a coherent public policy on education that will enliven educational practice, reinvigorate teachers and provide support to communities and their schools”, said Chris Watt.
The IEU welcomed the focus on the early childhood years of education and the critical role that these play in ensuring that ‘potential is realised’.
“Early childhood education and child care services are important in terms of an individual child’s needs for companionship, play opportunities, social and emotional and intellectual development, either through regular care or occasional care,” he said
“Extensive research has demonstrated the value of early childhood education, has demonstrated that effective schooling cannot be developed in isolation, has demonstrated that early childhood education is important for subsequent success and that schooling should build on the influential pre-school years,” he said.
“We know that good quality early child care and education sets the right foundation for children’s further development,” said Chris Watt.
“After a decade in office, the federal government has failed to commit the resources or indeed do anything to ensure that early childhood education is appropriately supported and nurtured in all childcare arrangements and so the commitments made by Mr Rudd are welcomed by the union,” said Mr Watt.
Mr Watt said that the IEU, and its membership nationally, supports properly funded initiatives, developed through dialogue with the education profession, that continue to improve the quality of educational outcomes for children.
“Teachers and staff in schools are already making mighty efforts to support students to realise their potential despite inadequate resourcing,” said Mr Watt. “I am sure that they will welcome Mr Rudd’s commitment to investing in school education and training opportunities for their students. That after all is what teachers and school staff commit themselves to every day”
“Opportunities for further training and learning are critical for students to be able to realise their own and consequently the nation’s potential and the ALP’s commitment to reverse the federal government’s decline in investment in higher education and training is critical” said Mr Watt.
The full text of Kevin Rudd’s speech and discussion paper can be found here:
Downloadable files
ALP Directions Paper – Education Revolution
Federal Labor Leader Education Speech Melbourne 23 January 2007
Contact details
Chris Watt
Assistant Federal Secretary
Ph: 03 9254 1830
Fax: 03 9254 1835
ieu@ieu.org.au