The Coalition has launched its education policy, The Coalition's plan for real action on Quality Education. It contains a comprehensive suite of policies from the Coalition should they win office.
In addition to previously announced initiatives in relation to the extension of existing funding arrangements and the National School Chaplaincy Programme, the establishment of an Education Card and the Regional Education Fund and the expansion of the Education Tax Rebate the policy contains a number of additional new initiatives.
The Coalition proposes to establish a Better Teacher Reward Fund with independent trustees to allow schools to apply for additional payments to recognise and reward those teachers who have worked especially hard to provide children with a high quality education.
While open to all schools preference will be given to applications covering the work of teachers in disadvantaged schools with a high proportion of special needs students and schools located in regional areas.
The Coalition's proposed School Technology Fund will replace the Computers in Schools programme and allow schools to apply for grants for a wide range of technology improvements. The Fund will provide grants for items such as:
- smart white boards and other projection technology
- implementation of Learning Management systems
- professional development in the area of lCT for teachers
- laptops or fixed computers
- software
- printers and scanners
- digital cameras and video cameras
- extra utilities – such as additional of power points or storage facilities for ICT technologies
Establishment Grants will also be reinstated under the Coalition's proposals. Providing $500 per student for the first two years these grants will provide much needed additional support in those early years of establishing a school.
Full details of all of these initiatives are contained in the policy attached.
Advertisement
