❓ Ms McGurk questions the Premier on the delayed decision regarding Fremantle secondary school amalgamations and requests assurance of a gifted and talented program in any new school. The Premier responds by outlining the community consultation process and commits to a decision by the end of the year, with potential investment in school quality.
AnsweredQoN 721Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FREMANTLE
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
721. Ms S.F. McGURK to the
Premier:
Given that it has been over a year since the government
flagged that it would close and amalgamate secondary schools in the Fremantle
area, I ask —
(1) When will
the Premier decide on what the government plans to do with secondary schools in
Fremantle?
(2) Will the
Premier ensure that any newly amalgamated school will have a gifted and
talented education program to drive increased Australian tertiary admission
rank subjects?
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
721. Ms S.F. McGURK to the
Premier:
Given that it has been over a year since the government
flagged that it would close and amalgamate secondary schools in the Fremantle
area, I ask —
(1) When will
the Premier decide on what the government plans to do with secondary schools in
Fremantle?
(2) Will the
Premier ensure that any newly amalgamated school will have a gifted and
talented education program to drive increased Australian tertiary admission
rank subjects?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
The reason that I, along with the Minister for Education, Hon Peter Collier, became involved in
secondary education in Fremantle is that members of the community were unhappy.
They were unhappy with their choice, with the curriculum and with some of the
standards in that area. I think that they raised a fair point. As a consequence
of that, I met with a group of civic leaders—for want of a better word—and
they restated that view. They talked about the lack of education, or
particularly the concentration on academic studies and a lack of opportunities
for entry into university education for students in the area. They also made
the point that Fremantle was changing its character from a traditional—if
members will excuse the term—blue-collar workforce to a very
aspirational workforce with people enjoying the ambience and attractiveness of
Fremantle. All of those things were happening. So, out of good faith, I and the
Minister for Education organised a public forum in Fremantle. I think over 200 people
attended, and they were constructive. There is no doubt about it. Members of
the community of Fremantle were highly constructive.
Ms S.F. McGurk : It was a year ago, Premier.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting to the member's
point. The member for Fremantle was the only person who asked a bit of a sneaky
question. Everyone else was very constructive and very positive.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Premier!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is the truth from the forum.
The SPEAKER : Premier!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Everyone else was positive except for the
member for Fremantle. However, I think during the course of the meeting, she
realised that her constituents actually wanted to see some improvement and she
joined in constructively.
Ms S.F. McGurk : I asked whether there was any plan —
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know what the member for Fremantle asked
and I am just explaining the importance for other members who also share an
interest in Fremantle and its development.
We had that forum,
there were discussions and indeed I visited the schools. I walked through
schools and talked to parents, but mainly to teachers, principals and a few
students. The Minister for Education has said that he expects he will be able
to make a decision on the structure of secondary education in Fremantle by the
end of this year. I hope that we can do that, and I hope that decision will be
well received. I make the point, and I made it at the public meeting, that if
it involves the amalgamation of schools, which it may well do, there will need
to be public investment in raising the quality of those schools in both their
physical environment and also in their teaching and the programs they offer. I
hope this will see an improvement in education in Fremantle. It may take some
time to achieve but it is in response to community concern. More recently, we
started a similar process in Armadale, an area where no doubt teenagers do not
have the opportunities in education that they deserve. Is it not ironic that
throughout the Labor years, those two areas of secondary education were
ignored?
The reason that I, along with the Minister for Education, Hon Peter Collier, became involved in
secondary education in Fremantle is that members of the community were unhappy.
They were unhappy with their choice, with the curriculum and with some of the
standards in that area. I think that they raised a fair point. As a consequence
of that, I met with a group of civic leaders—for want of a better word—and
they restated that view. They talked about the lack of education, or
particularly the concentration on academic studies and a lack of opportunities
for entry into university education for students in the area. They also made
the point that Fremantle was changing its character from a traditional—if
members will excuse the term—blue-collar workforce to a very
aspirational workforce with people enjoying the ambience and attractiveness of
Fremantle. All of those things were happening. So, out of good faith, I and the
Minister for Education organised a public forum in Fremantle. I think over 200 people
attended, and they were constructive. There is no doubt about it. Members of
the community of Fremantle were highly constructive.
Ms S.F. McGurk : It was a year ago, Premier.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting to the member's
point. The member for Fremantle was the only person who asked a bit of a sneaky
question. Everyone else was very constructive and very positive.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Premier!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is the truth from the forum.
The SPEAKER : Premier!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Everyone else was positive except for the
member for Fremantle. However, I think during the course of the meeting, she
realised that her constituents actually wanted to see some improvement and she
joined in constructively.
Ms S.F. McGurk : I asked whether there was any plan —
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know what the member for Fremantle asked
and I am just explaining the importance for other members who also share an
interest in Fremantle and its development.
We had that forum,
there were discussions and indeed I visited the schools. I walked through
schools and talked to parents, but mainly to teachers, principals and a few
students. The Minister for Education has said that he expects he will be able
to make a decision on the structure of secondary education in Fremantle by the
end of this year. I hope that we can do that, and I hope that decision will be
well received. I make the point, and I made it at the public meeting, that if
it involves the amalgamation of schools, which it may well do, there will need
to be public investment in raising the quality of those schools in both their
physical environment and also in their teaching and the programs they offer. I
hope this will see an improvement in education in Fremantle. It may take some
time to achieve but it is in response to community concern. More recently, we
started a similar process in Armadale, an area where no doubt teenagers do not
have the opportunities in education that they deserve. Is it not ironic that
throughout the Labor years, those two areas of secondary education were
ignored?
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