Media Release: APPA Welcomes Coalition Education Policy

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The Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA) today welcomed the release of the Coalition’s education policy.

“The Coalition’s education policy contains some good features but lacks detail,” APPA President Leonie Trimper said today.

“We support the Coalition’s plan to reward teachers who make outstanding contributions to their schools, particularly in disadvantaged schools.

“However, further detail will be needed before a final judgment on the Coalition’s policy can be made. For example, it is not clear whether the independent boards needed to sign off on these performance bonuses will be a national, state or local body. Will the same bonuses be available for teachers in primary and secondary schools? Nor is it clear what criteria will be used to measure performance.

“These are critical details, and APPA is disappointed that the Coalition’s policy is not more developed on these important points,” Ms Trimper said.

“The Coalition’s ICT policy to support school budgets with funds for professional development and new equipment is also welcome. We applaud the fact that the Coalition is targeting disadvantaged schools and has not taken a ‘one‐size‐fits‐all’ approach.

“Once again, more detail is needed. While it is good that schools will be funded directly, it is not clear how the recurrent expenditure needed to support new equipment will be funded. Greater cooperation will be needed between the State, Territory and Commonwealth governments to ensure this support is provided and that schools are not left carrying these additional costs.

“More generally, the Coalition’s policy contains many worthwhile commitments including an expansion of the school chaplaincy program and greater autonomy for principals and school communities. However, more detail about how these policies will be implemented is required.

APPA looks forward to working with the Coalition to understand how it intends to implement these policies in practice,” Ms Trimper said.