QLD Election: an education focus

AS Queenslanders prepare to hit the polls on 25 November, a peak body warns that the State risks being left behind if education was not prioritised for investment and policy reform in the next term of Government.

“In today’s globally competitive and technologically connected world, schools must continue to transform to equip students with the relevant knowledge, skills and capabilities they will need for the jobs of the future,” Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) executive director David Robertson said.

ISQ suggested that education commitments must be central to the State election policy platforms of all parties, including:

• Ongoing recurrent funding for non-state schools and continued State funding for universal kindergarten access

• Increased funding support for the State’s most vulnerable students

• Facilitating infrastructure planning and provision for new Independent schools

• Additional capital funding assistance towards new school infrastructure in growth areas, and

• Continuing support for teacher and school leadership development.

“With new Federal funding arrangements due to commence from

2018, Independent schools are relying on the stability and certainty of recurrent funding from the Queensland Government to maintain their education services for local families in this transition period,” Mr Robertson said.