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Hunters Hill Local News |
16 June 2010
POLLIES' THOUGHTS DIFFER ON EDUCATION REVOLUTION
Pollies’ thoughts differ on education revolution
16 Jun 10 @ 08:03am by SCOTT HOWLETT
BENNELONG Greens candidate Lindsay Peters has criticised the government for spending money on providing laptop computers to students.
“A far better educational bang for buck would come from improving the skills and working conditions for teachers, reducing class sizes, and restoring funding to TAFE colleges,” Mr Peters said.
But he said program has been successful in “general terms”.
“However, the many examples of wastage could have been reduced if the scheme had been introduced with less haste, and if principals and parent-citizens groups in public schools had more (of a say on) how this money was spent.”
Bennelong Liberal candidate John Alexander said the Building the Education Revolution was one of the “worst examples of mismanagement of taxpayers’ money” yet seen.
“While there is a need to invest in our education facilities, we have to ensure that we get value for money, and that clearly hasn’t happened,” Mr Alexander said.
“There certainly are indications that there hasn’t been tough enough rules around the handing out of the contracts, as we are seeing prices come in for projects which are highly over-inflated.
“Certainly from the examples where the independent school principals have managed their own contracts, they have got a far better deal for their students and for taxpayers.”
Mr Alexander also branded the roll out of lap-top commuters a failure.
“In Bennelong, where 3311 computers are needed to have one for every child, they have only managed to provide 1613,” he said.
“That would be a fail on anyone’s report card.”
Bennelong Federal Labor MP Maxine McKew, however, said the investment in education in Bennelong was “unprecedented”.
“In our local schools, we are rolling out 107 projects worth a total of more than $88 million as part of the biggest school modernisation program in our nation’s history,” Ms McKew said.
Ms McKew also defended the rollout of computers for high schools, which she said was progressing well, having passed the halfway mark.
“An investment of more than $1.4 million has so far delivered more than 1800 computers to local students with the aim of reaching a ratio of one computer per student in years 9 to 12 by the end of next year,” Ms McKew said.
“My office has worked closely with all school principals and whether you’re in Epping Heights, St Kevins at Eastwood or Gladesville Public, parents, teachers and students tell me they’re excited as the new halls, libraries and classrooms take shape and near completion.” NEXT WEEK: Should we be a republic?
Courtesy of Northern District Times
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