❓ Opposition questions the Premier about the readiness of teachers to implement Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) in years 11 and 12, citing teacher concerns and seeking a moratorium. The Premier defends the implementation, citing consultation and expert support, and accuses the opposition of playing politics.
AnsweredQoN 763Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to the overwhelming opposition to the Gallop government’s ramming through of outcomes-based education in years 11 and 12 next year, and specifically to the comments of a practising high school English teacher lodged on the “People Lobbying Against Teaching Outcomes” web site on 19 October. My notes show that the comment reads - It concerns me greatly that I have now attended Day 5 training for the new Course of Study (English) and am no further along in my understanding of what needs to happen next year. In fact, I am even further behind, as we received the sample exam paper yesterday and it turns out that nothing that we have embedded in the courses is covered in the exam - it looks like we will have to go away and re-write the courses to give our students any reasonable chance of passing the exam. . . . I have completed Day 5. I am considered to be sufficiently trained to implement the courses next year. How come I don't understand it? (1) If government schoolteachers cannot understand OBE, how on earth does the Premier expect schoolchildren to understand it? (2) Will the Premier now impose a moratorium on the implementation of OBE in years 11 and 12? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I will answer the last question first, and the answer is no. This educational position is being implemented through full consultation with the teaching profession. There is some controversy attached to it. I urge all members of Parliament to read the article by Mr Geoff Masters, one of Australia’s most eminent educationists, who is a Western Australian and is the foremost authority on how we assess academic standards in our schools. The former minister will remember that he set up many of the tests that are used in schools to ascertain what progress is being made in mathematics, literacy and whatever. I urge members to read the article which was in The Australian newspaper earlier this week and which dealt with the question of outcomes-based education, the philosophy surrounding it and the issues relating to it. This is just cheap politics by the Liberal Party. What is the Liberal Party’s philosophy on education? The member for Cottesloe, when minister, stood up for a particular philosophy on how the system should be organised and he was willing to be accountable for it. When we came to government we took on board many of the things that he introduced. Where does the opposition stand on OBE and the important role it can play in making sure we get good results from our education system? Is the opposition in favour of it or against it? Mr M.J. Birney : The teachers are not ready to teach it. Read what they are saying. Your very own teachers are saying they do not understand it and you want them to teach it next year. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
. . .
(1) If government schoolteachers cannot understand OBE, how on earth does the Premier expect schoolchildren to understand it? (2) Will the Premier now impose a moratorium on the implementation of OBE in years 11 and 12? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I will answer the last question first, and the answer is no. This educational position is being implemented through full consultation with the teaching profession. There is some controversy attached to it. I urge all members of Parliament to read the article by Mr Geoff Masters, one of Australia’s most eminent educationists, who is a Western Australian and is the foremost authority on how we assess academic standards in our schools. The former minister will remember that he set up many of the tests that are used in schools to ascertain what progress is being made in mathematics, literacy and whatever. I urge members to read the article which was in The Australian newspaper earlier this week and which dealt with the question of outcomes-based education, the philosophy surrounding it and the issues relating to it. This is just cheap politics by the Liberal Party. What is the Liberal Party’s philosophy on education? The member for Cottesloe, when minister, stood up for a particular philosophy on how the system should be organised and he was willing to be accountable for it. When we came to government we took on board many of the things that he introduced. Where does the opposition stand on OBE and the important role it can play in making sure we get good results from our education system? Is the opposition in favour of it or against it? Mr M.J. Birney : The teachers are not ready to teach it. Read what they are saying. Your very own teachers are saying they do not understand it and you want them to teach it next year. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
(2) Will the Premier now impose a moratorium on the implementation of OBE in years 11 and 12? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I will answer the last question first, and the answer is no. This educational position is being implemented through full consultation with the teaching profession. There is some controversy attached to it. I urge all members of Parliament to read the article by Mr Geoff Masters, one of Australia’s most eminent educationists, who is a Western Australian and is the foremost authority on how we assess academic standards in our schools. The former minister will remember that he set up many of the tests that are used in schools to ascertain what progress is being made in mathematics, literacy and whatever. I urge members to read the article which was in The Australian newspaper earlier this week and which dealt with the question of outcomes-based education, the philosophy surrounding it and the issues relating to it. This is just cheap politics by the Liberal Party. What is the Liberal Party’s philosophy on education? The member for Cottesloe, when minister, stood up for a particular philosophy on how the system should be organised and he was willing to be accountable for it. When we came to government we took on board many of the things that he introduced. Where does the opposition stand on OBE and the important role it can play in making sure we get good results from our education system? Is the opposition in favour of it or against it? Mr M.J. Birney : The teachers are not ready to teach it. Read what they are saying. Your very own teachers are saying they do not understand it and you want them to teach it next year. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I will answer the last question first, and the answer is no. This educational position is being implemented through full consultation with the teaching profession. There is some controversy attached to it. I urge all members of Parliament to read the article by Mr Geoff Masters, one of Australia’s most eminent educationists, who is a Western Australian and is the foremost authority on how we assess academic standards in our schools. The former minister will remember that he set up many of the tests that are used in schools to ascertain what progress is being made in mathematics, literacy and whatever. I urge members to read the article which was in The Australian newspaper earlier this week and which dealt with the question of outcomes-based education, the philosophy surrounding it and the issues relating to it. This is just cheap politics by the Liberal Party. What is the Liberal Party’s philosophy on education? The member for Cottesloe, when minister, stood up for a particular philosophy on how the system should be organised and he was willing to be accountable for it. When we came to government we took on board many of the things that he introduced. Where does the opposition stand on OBE and the important role it can play in making sure we get good results from our education system? Is the opposition in favour of it or against it? Mr M.J. Birney : The teachers are not ready to teach it. Read what they are saying. Your very own teachers are saying they do not understand it and you want them to teach it next year. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
(1)-(2) I will answer the last question first, and the answer is no. This educational position is being implemented through full consultation with the teaching profession. There is some controversy attached to it. I urge all members of Parliament to read the article by Mr Geoff Masters, one of Australia’s most eminent educationists, who is a Western Australian and is the foremost authority on how we assess academic standards in our schools. The former minister will remember that he set up many of the tests that are used in schools to ascertain what progress is being made in mathematics, literacy and whatever. I urge members to read the article which was in The Australian newspaper earlier this week and which dealt with the question of outcomes-based education, the philosophy surrounding it and the issues relating to it. This is just cheap politics by the Liberal Party. What is the Liberal Party’s philosophy on education? The member for Cottesloe, when minister, stood up for a particular philosophy on how the system should be organised and he was willing to be accountable for it. When we came to government we took on board many of the things that he introduced. Where does the opposition stand on OBE and the important role it can play in making sure we get good results from our education system? Is the opposition in favour of it or against it? Mr M.J. Birney : The teachers are not ready to teach it. Read what they are saying. Your very own teachers are saying they do not understand it and you want them to teach it next year. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
Mr M.J. Birney : The teachers are not ready to teach it. Read what they are saying. Your very own teachers are saying they do not understand it and you want them to teach it next year. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
. . .
(1) If government schoolteachers cannot understand OBE, how on earth does the Premier expect schoolchildren to understand it? (2) Will the Premier now impose a moratorium on the implementation of OBE in years 11 and 12? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I will answer the last question first, and the answer is no. This educational position is being implemented through full consultation with the teaching profession. There is some controversy attached to it. I urge all members of Parliament to read the article by Mr Geoff Masters, one of Australia’s most eminent educationists, who is a Western Australian and is the foremost authority on how we assess academic standards in our schools. The former minister will remember that he set up many of the tests that are used in schools to ascertain what progress is being made in mathematics, literacy and whatever. I urge members to read the article which was in The Australian newspaper earlier this week and which dealt with the question of outcomes-based education, the philosophy surrounding it and the issues relating to it. This is just cheap politics by the Liberal Party. What is the Liberal Party’s philosophy on education? The member for Cottesloe, when minister, stood up for a particular philosophy on how the system should be organised and he was willing to be accountable for it. When we came to government we took on board many of the things that he introduced. Where does the opposition stand on OBE and the important role it can play in making sure we get good results from our education system? Is the opposition in favour of it or against it? Mr M.J. Birney : The teachers are not ready to teach it. Read what they are saying. Your very own teachers are saying they do not understand it and you want them to teach it next year. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
(2) Will the Premier now impose a moratorium on the implementation of OBE in years 11 and 12? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I will answer the last question first, and the answer is no. This educational position is being implemented through full consultation with the teaching profession. There is some controversy attached to it. I urge all members of Parliament to read the article by Mr Geoff Masters, one of Australia’s most eminent educationists, who is a Western Australian and is the foremost authority on how we assess academic standards in our schools. The former minister will remember that he set up many of the tests that are used in schools to ascertain what progress is being made in mathematics, literacy and whatever. I urge members to read the article which was in The Australian newspaper earlier this week and which dealt with the question of outcomes-based education, the philosophy surrounding it and the issues relating to it. This is just cheap politics by the Liberal Party. What is the Liberal Party’s philosophy on education? The member for Cottesloe, when minister, stood up for a particular philosophy on how the system should be organised and he was willing to be accountable for it. When we came to government we took on board many of the things that he introduced. Where does the opposition stand on OBE and the important role it can play in making sure we get good results from our education system? Is the opposition in favour of it or against it? Mr M.J. Birney : The teachers are not ready to teach it. Read what they are saying. Your very own teachers are saying they do not understand it and you want them to teach it next year. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I will answer the last question first, and the answer is no. This educational position is being implemented through full consultation with the teaching profession. There is some controversy attached to it. I urge all members of Parliament to read the article by Mr Geoff Masters, one of Australia’s most eminent educationists, who is a Western Australian and is the foremost authority on how we assess academic standards in our schools. The former minister will remember that he set up many of the tests that are used in schools to ascertain what progress is being made in mathematics, literacy and whatever. I urge members to read the article which was in The Australian newspaper earlier this week and which dealt with the question of outcomes-based education, the philosophy surrounding it and the issues relating to it. This is just cheap politics by the Liberal Party. What is the Liberal Party’s philosophy on education? The member for Cottesloe, when minister, stood up for a particular philosophy on how the system should be organised and he was willing to be accountable for it. When we came to government we took on board many of the things that he introduced. Where does the opposition stand on OBE and the important role it can play in making sure we get good results from our education system? Is the opposition in favour of it or against it? Mr M.J. Birney : The teachers are not ready to teach it. Read what they are saying. Your very own teachers are saying they do not understand it and you want them to teach it next year. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
(1)-(2) I will answer the last question first, and the answer is no. This educational position is being implemented through full consultation with the teaching profession. There is some controversy attached to it. I urge all members of Parliament to read the article by Mr Geoff Masters, one of Australia’s most eminent educationists, who is a Western Australian and is the foremost authority on how we assess academic standards in our schools. The former minister will remember that he set up many of the tests that are used in schools to ascertain what progress is being made in mathematics, literacy and whatever. I urge members to read the article which was in The Australian newspaper earlier this week and which dealt with the question of outcomes-based education, the philosophy surrounding it and the issues relating to it. This is just cheap politics by the Liberal Party. What is the Liberal Party’s philosophy on education? The member for Cottesloe, when minister, stood up for a particular philosophy on how the system should be organised and he was willing to be accountable for it. When we came to government we took on board many of the things that he introduced. Where does the opposition stand on OBE and the important role it can play in making sure we get good results from our education system? Is the opposition in favour of it or against it? Mr M.J. Birney : The teachers are not ready to teach it. Read what they are saying. Your very own teachers are saying they do not understand it and you want them to teach it next year. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
Mr M.J. Birney : The teachers are not ready to teach it. Read what they are saying. Your very own teachers are saying they do not understand it and you want them to teach it next year. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition does not understand leadership and he takes no interest in these issues. We will continue to implement it through proper consultation with those who work in our schools; that is, the teachers. We will do it properly and make sure the syllabus and support material are there for them. Also we will make sure that when someone graduates from our schools they will have the outcomes that we believe they need to fully participate in our society, both academically and socially, so that they can make their full contribution to this great state of Western Australia.
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