Media Release
28 June 2011
The Independent Education Union has welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement of $138 million in funding to continue to help schools improve students’ literacy and numeracy skills.
The IEU National Secretary, Chris Watt said, the funding while welcomed by our members needs to be targeted to ensure teachers are given the tools to continue to build their skills in teaching literacy and numeracy.
“The IEU is urging the Australian Government to ensure they are getting value for money for schools by targeting funding to help to continue to develop our teachers abilities to teach the basics well,” Mr Watt said.
“The Smarter Schools program is a great initiative as long as it is used to improve teaching; smarter teachers equals smarter schools.
“All future recognition payments to schools should be used to develop professional development opportunities to boost the skills of our teachers which will ultimately be to the benefit of students.
“Investing in innovative teaching programs, and giving teachers extra support such as employing literacy and numeracy coaches, personalised learning plans for disadvantaged and Indigenous students, and targeted home reading programs are particularly welcomed.”
The Australian Government needs to come to the table and examine a new way of working with and funding non-government schools in order to get better outcomes for teachers and students in these schools.
“We are also calling on the Australian Government to directly fund non-government education bodies so this vital National Partnership funding goes directly to these schools rather than through the state education bureaucracies.
“Our membership, the teachers who teach our students to read and write welcome this funding but are urging the Government to give them the tools to get the best out of our children,” Mr Watt said.