School resumes for an eventful Term Two

Students and teachers have been welcomed back to school across the state for what will be an exciting and busy second term.

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek said he was looking forward to visiting schools and meeting students, teachers and principals while working hard to deliver on the Newman Government’s Can-Do plan to revitalise frontline services for Queensland families.

“This term kicked off with an international venture for five lucky Queensland students, who began their two-week journey to Gallipoli and the Western Front on 20 April as winners of the Premier’s Anzac Prize,” Mr Langbroek said.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for students to honour the Anzac legacy and I encourage high school students in years 8 to 11 to enter the 2015 competition.

“This government made a $1 million commitment at the election to give 50 students the chance to go to Gallipoli, but thanks to an extra allocation of places from the Federal Government, we’re delivering double that number.”

Following the launch of the Premier’s Reading Challenge on 7 May, teachers and students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will sit their NAPLAN tests from 13 to 15 May.

“Last year we saw significant improvement in Queensland NAPLAN scores, with the Year 5 cohort achieving their best results on record.

“Everything the Newman Government does in education is aimed at achieving better student outcomes and we are delivering.

“We want Queensland to be among the top performing states in NAPLAN by 2020 and each year our improvements are taking us closer to reaching this goal.”

Mr Langbroek said another highlight of Term 2 would be State Education Week from 18 to 24 May and P&C Day on 23 May.

“State Education Week is an opportunity to recognise our talented students and teachers and showcase their work to the wider community,” he said.

Students will also prepare for the Term 3 performances of Creative Generation – State Schools Onstage while submissions for the 2015 Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art open today and close on 23 July.

The 2013 winning artworks are on display at GoMA until 22 June.

Mr Langbroek congratulated schools on the impressive portfolio of achievements already accomplished in the 2014 school year.

He said schools would continue to benefit from a range of initiatives in Term 2, including the implementation of the Newman Government’s Great Teachers = Great Results, as well as the expansion of the four-year Independent Public Schools program, which is now in its second year.

Mr Langbroek said the $131 million Great Results Guarantee initiative was now well underway with every state school in Queensland implementing a targeted education plan to improve literacy and numeracy in the early years.

“We’ll also be announcing the third round of extra prep teacher aide hours, an international education strategy and even more ways we’ve been able to reduce red tape in schools,” he said.

“It’s going to be a busy term and I wish everyone well.”

Photo attached. 

[ENDS] 22 April 2014

Media contact: Danita Goodwin 0439 886 652