Media Release – Tuesday 4 October 2011
The Prime Minister should act immediately to invest more in the education of disabled children following her remarks at last night’s Community Cabinet meeting in Tasmania that, “we can do better and we should do better”.
The Prime Minister was asked the following by a parent who has a child with a disability:
“I’m looking for a promise for further funding for education – not just for Catholics, but for independent and state schools – that the quality of education improves, because at the moment they’re getting no opportunities and it’s not fair.”
The Prime Minister said in response:
“We as a nation can do better for kids with disabilities and we should do better.”
Federal Secretary of the IEU, Mr Chris Watt said schools across the country need more adequate resources to help educate those children with special needs.
“We welcome the fact that the Government has put extra investments into helping provide disability services into schools, but there is so much more to do.
“Minister Garrett and the Australian Government need to tackle this issue as a matter of priority.
“We can’t have these inequities in the system continue to get worse while the Government decides what to do.
“We welcome the Prime Minister saying we can do better, and the schools and the teachers need the resources to start doing better right now,” said Mr Watt.
Media Contact: Evan Langdon 0429 020 409 or elangdon@ieu.org.au