❓ A parliamentary question criticises the Minister for Education's commitment to improving primary and secondary education in WA government schools, citing concerns about educational outcomes and public confidence. The Minister refutes the claim of eroding public confidence, highlighting improved student retention rates.
AnsweredQoN 878Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is it correct that, last year the Broome Primary School Branch of the Western Australian Teacher’s Union criticised the Minister’s lack of commitment to improving primary school education in Western Australian Government schools?
(2) Was the reason for this criticism that they thought that the Minister had shown a lack of understanding of the issues associated with improving educational outcomes in primary schools?
(3) Did they award you a ‘C’ for your efforts?
(4) With the release of the latest TEE results, is it correct that only two Government secondary schools rank in the top twenty achieving schools?
(5) Does this indicate the Government’s lack of success in improving educational outcomes in secondary schools?
(6) What is the Government going to do to address this situation and improve educational standards in both our primary and secondary Government schools?
(7) Specifically, what is the Labor Government going to do differently to ensure that public confidence in Government secondary schools isn’t further eroded with a similar TEE result this year?
(2) Was the reason for this criticism that they thought that the Minister had shown a lack of understanding of the issues associated with improving educational outcomes in primary schools?
(3) Did they award you a ‘C’ for your efforts?
(4) With the release of the latest TEE results, is it correct that only two Government secondary schools rank in the top twenty achieving schools?
(5) Does this indicate the Government’s lack of success in improving educational outcomes in secondary schools?
(6) What is the Government going to do to address this situation and improve educational standards in both our primary and secondary Government schools?
(7) Specifically, what is the Labor Government going to do differently to ensure that public confidence in Government secondary schools isn’t further eroded with a similar TEE result this year?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 April 2003
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training
Response time
34 days
(1) – (7) The Government is committed to continuing to improve educational standards in both primary and secondary government schools. I refute the Member's assertion that public confidence in government secondary schools is being eroded. For example, in 2002, the Year 12 apparent student retention rates for government schools reached 62.6 percent. This was an increase of two and a half percent on the 2001 figures and was the highest it had been since 1993. In particular, this was a significant increase on the low of 58.2 percent in 1996. Furthermore, the recent merger of the departments of Education and Training will provide particular focus on improving the outcomes for all 15 – 17 year olds.
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