Labor Spins on League Tables While Needy Schools Miss Out

28 January 2010

Shadow Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli today slammed the State Labor Government for their failure to provide disadvantaged schools with the resources needed to improve their students’ literacy and numeracy skills.

Documents obtained by The Liberals & Nationals under Freedom of Information show that schools in regions with the highest proportions of poorly performing students have received the least funding under State Labor.

Schools in Western NSW, New England, the Riverina and the North Coast have received the least amount of funding under the Best Start Program, despite having the highest proportion of students not meeting minimum education benchmarks.

For example, in Western NSW about 15 per cent of Year 3 students are not meeting the minimum standards in literacy and numeracy, yet the region has only received $115,000 over the past three years under the $15.2m Reading Recovery program.

Mr Piccoli said State Labor were more focused on trashing the reputation of disadvantaged schools through league tables rather than helping lift the skills of poorly-performing students.

“State Labor are hell-bent on allowing the publication of league tables, but aren’t willing to lift a finger when it comes to helping students who aren’t performing well,” Mr Piccoli said.

“The point of national testing is to identify which students and schools need assistance, but under Labor the most needy schools aren’t getting the resources they need.

“While State and Federal Labor are fixated with testing and how those results are published, The Liberals & Nationals have a comprehensive plan to deal with the results of those tests and ensure teachers and resources go to those kids identified as in need.

“Last weekend Barry O’Farrell and I announced the $250m Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan which will ensure children in NSW are equipped with the ability to read, write and count.

“Our plan will provide an additional 900 teachers and focuses on early intervention and prevention, and will target those most in need.

“This will give us the best chance to identify and address learning difficulties before it’s too late.

“This is another one of our positive, practical plans that will give our children the best possible start to life and deliver the change NSW desperately needs.”