By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
THEY give a Gonski and took the celebrations to the Narre Warren South P12 College.
Receiving more than $1.3 million dollars in September to put towards disadvantaged students – college staff and members of the AEU discussed their plans for the future of the “up in the air” six-year Gonski plan.
At a morning tea on Tuesday 27 October, AEU deputy secretary Carolyn Clancy said the future of what has been more than a 10-year process still needs to be finalised.
“We can celebrate the dollars now in schools but our concern is that the Federal Government hasn’t made any commitments for the fifth and sixth years which is where most of the funding lays,” Ms Clancy said.
The $1 million boost granted by the Victorian Government this year can be used by the schools to improve the learning and lives of disadvantaged students within certain guidelines.
Ms Clancy, a former primary and special school teacher, said the imperative funds could mean “reduced class sizes, more one-on-one time with teachers, on-site speech pathologists and professional teacher training”.
For a college of 2000 students, principal Rob Duncan said it was hard to enact an educational four-year plan for the school without commitment from the government.
“The extra years of Gonski funding is absolutely critical for the type of improvement schools are meant to be making,” Mr Duncan said.
“Once the plan is started you don’t start seeing results until four years down the track and if the money is pulled you have to start again.”
With the funding already delivered to the primary/secondary college Mr Duncan, who has been with the school for 10 years, said student well-being and literacy would be where he spent most of the cash.
“We would like to get a psychologist from Headspace into the school two days a week,” Mr Duncan said.
“Due to the sheer size of this college, mental health is always a key area.”
As part of Gonski week, Ms Clancy said the AEU would be visiting other schools in Casey to continue their campaign.
