Premier and Education Minister launch Prep teacher aide boost

The LNP Government has launched a major education initiative today, with Premier Campbell Newman and Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek announcing the first schools to receive a boost in Prep teacher aides.

Mr Newman said the $54 million program would enable the equivalent of a full-time teacher aide in 600 Queensland state school classes over four years.

“This significant commitment gives Queensland’s Prep children the best start to their education and supports frontline teachers in doing what they do best,” Mr Newman said.

“We’ve launched this program by targeting Prep classes in areas of greatest need, including low socio-economic and rural and remote communities.”

The initiative beginning at the start of the 2013 school year will:

-extend to the first 154 classes in 107 schools across the state

-provide 2,341 additional teacher aide hours a week in the 2013 school year

-build over the following three years to 9,000 extra hours a week across the state to allow more full time aides working 25 hours a week.

Prep enrolments at the start of the 2013 school year will determine the exact allocation of teacher aide hours to the selected schools.

“This was a major election promise and we are pleased to deliver it within our first 100 days,” he said.

The Premier and Mr Langbroek made the announcement at Tullawong State School in Caboolture, one of the first schools to benefit from the initiative.

“This is a significant step in providing a greater level of care and learning to our Prep children,” Mr Langbroek said.

“More personalised attention will allow our children to grow their reading, writing and social skills at what is such a formative time in their development.

“I know firsthand the great work that teacher aides do to support childrens’ progress in the classroom: my mother was a teacher aide.

“The Newman Government is committed to providing Queensland children with the highest quality teaching and learning, in their early years, throughout their education and training and into the work force.”

A list of the first 107 schools to receive additional teacher aide resources follows.

[ENDS] 24 May 2012

Media contacts:

Kylie Jacobson (Premier) 0419 850 223

Danyelle Nolan (Minister Langbroek) 0408 410 930

Queensland state schools that will receive additional teacher aide funding in 2013

Ambrose, Anakie, Andergrove, Aramac, Ashwell, Ayr, Beaudesert, Benarkin, Biboohra, Bloomsbury, Bluff, Brandon, Broadwater, Bullyard, Bundaberg East, Bundaberg North, Butchers Creek, Calen District State College, Camira, Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy - Aurukun Campus, Cardwell, Charlton, Childers, Chillagoe, Churchill, Clarendon, Collinsville, Coolangatta, Coominya, Depot Hill, Dimbulah, Duaringa, Dundula, Elliott Heads, Eungella, Flying Fish Point, Forrest Beach, Gladstone Central, Glennie Heights, Glenore Grove, Glenwood, Goondi, Grantham, Hambledon, Home Hill, Homebush, Injune, Jarvisfield, Julia Creek, Kenilworth State Community College, Kennedy, Kentville, Kia-Ora, Kingsthorpe, Lockrose, Lowood, Macknade, Merinda, Millaa Millaa, Moffatdale, Monkland, Mount Larcom, Mount Perry, Mount Sylvia, Mount Tarampa, Mourilyan, Murarrie, Murphy's Creek, Nebo, Pentland, Port Curtis Road, Prospect Creek, Proston, Queens Beach, Quilpie State College, Richmond, Rocklea, Rollingstone, Sarina, Scottville, Seville Road, Silkstone, Silkwood, Slade Point, South Johnstone, Surat, Swayneville, Tambo, Thargomindah, The Summit, Tivoli, Toowoomba North, Toowoomba South, Townsville West, Tullawong, Walkamin, Wallangarra, Walloon, Wallumbilla, Warwick East, Wolvi, Wooroolin, Wowan, Wynnum, Yarraman, Yelarbon, Yuleba