Education Minister Criticises Opponents of School Performance Information

Daly Telegraph, 29 July 2009

The Australian Government Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Ms Julia Gillard, has written an article critical of those who want to prevent the publication of school performance information.

Ms Gillard’s online article claimed that those who opposed publications were ‘burying their heads in the sand’ and that their attitudes would not help struggling students to improve.

She argued that a national survey had demonstrated that 80 per cent of respondent parents wanted school performance information to be made public, and claimed that ‘what seems to have been lost in the argy bargy is the desire of parents to provide the best education for their children...Parents know well-informed governments can target resources and their child can be given the best possible educational opportunity.’

Ms Gillard emphasised that the release of school performance information would not be used to punish schools, but argued that governments, schools and teachers needed to be accountable for student outcomes. She also indicated that ‘there will be strict new protocols on the use of data...to ensure that if comparisons are made they are meaningful and that any school’s performance is properly understood in context’.

To access a copy of Ms Gillard’s article, visit The Punch website.

 

 

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