The release today of the 2023 NAPLAN results, showing significant numbers of students across Australia require additional support in literacy and numeracy, reinforces the need for full funding of public schools.
“NAPLAN is just one measure of student achievement, and its importance should not be overrated, but the overall pattern of these results add to the evidence about the unacceptable achievement gaps between students from different backgrounds and locations,” said Australian Education Union Federal President Correna Haythorpe.
The Australian Education Union Victorian Branch has welcomed the announcement that the Andrews Government will not cut visiting teacher positions.
Education Minister Hutchins has listened to the calls of AEU members, parents/carers, and schools, with the decision ensuring that public school students with significant additional needs will continue to receive the critical education and support provided by visiting teachers.
In an open letter published in the Herald Sun and The Age this morning, the Australian Education Victorian Branch has called on Premier Daniel Andrews to act now to urgently fix the teacher shortage crisis being experienced in Victoria’s public schools.
This letter comes as teacher and staff vacancies for public schools in Victoria hit record numbers yesterday, with 2,255 positions advertised on the Education Department’s vacancies website.
The Australian Education Union Victorian Branch has condemned the City of Knox for walking away from the provision of essential kinder services, despite the overwhelming wishes of the local community.
Branch President Meredith Peace expressed profound disappointment over the decision, which will leave 120 employees with no job security and impact the early learning of approximately 1,100 three and four-year-olds.
The Australian Education Union Victorian Branch has strongly condemned the Andrews Labor Government’s decision to cut Visiting Teacher jobs in the middle of an already severe teacher workforce shortage, and when students and staff in schools need additional support.
AEU Victorian Branch President Meredith Peace said that the Government’s decision to reduce the Visiting Teacher workforce at a time when many schools across Victoria are struggling to fill teaching vacancies didn’t make sense and was deeply misguided.
The Australian Education Union is launching a national campaign today outside Parliament House in Canberra to secure the full funding of public schools.
The For Every Child campaign aims to secure full funding by 2028 to allow public schools to reduce class sizes, increase the one-on-one support for students and provide more time and classroom assistance for teachers.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) has proudly endorsed the “Yes” case for a Voice to Parliament, published by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) ahead of the historic referendum on constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
New figures reveal the vital investment the Albanese Government must make to help end the underfunding of public schools and allow principals and teachers to cut class sizes and provide more individual attention and support for every child.
AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said 98% of public schools are currently funded below the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), which is the minimum amount governments have agreed is required to meet the needs of all students.
The Australian Education Union is calling for all public schools to be fully funded by 2028 to lift the one-on-one support children receive in the classroom and give teachers the time and resources to meet the needs of every child.
“Ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their potential can only be realised through a fully funded public school system,” said AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe.
The shocking disparity in funding for private schools and public schools, revealed today, shows the urgent need for greater public school funding.
“Public schools enrol the overwhelming majority of Australian students and enrol a greater proportion of students with additional needs,” said Australian Education Union Deputy Federal President Meredith Peace.
“And yet, as this data shows, public schools are being left behind due to inequitable funding arrangements.