School Mothballing Mothballed
Published Sunday, 12 September, 2010 at 02:38 PM
Minister for Education and Training
The Honourable Geoff Wilson
Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson says 14 schools subject to the ‘mothballing’ process in Queensland would remain open and the process itself would be mothballed in favour of long-term sustainability plans.
Another school, Peek-a-doo State School would be temporarily closed by default after its enrolments fell to zero before Term 2 this year.
Mr Wilson said it was time to update the process to make sure the emphasis was on keeping schools open, not shutting them down.
“The Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens Association (QCPCA) has been absolutely instrumental in petitioning for a new process to be developed that has at its heart the viability of our schools,” he said.
“Parents have shown just how much they value the role of schools in their areas and have made strong submissions about how a process that values the growth of schools should work.
“We received 182 written submissions from parents and communities regarding these schools and all submissions included thoughtful advice about a way forward.
“The QCPCA has advocated long and hard for a better process and we intend to make that happen.
“It has long been our position that we prefer state schools to remain open and responsive to the broad educational needs of our students.”
Mr Wilson said he recognised that it was counter-productive to potentially expose schools to an annual review process for something that was, by its nature, a longer term matter.
“That’s why we will be looking at a new, three-year consultation process for schools identified as potentially unviable,” he said.
“During the three years, the Department of Education and Training will work with those schools and the local community to boost everything from enrolments to educational opportunity.
“A formal report will be completed each year detailing the progress made to date.”
“After 10 years of the current process, it is time to take a fresh look at how we can make sure that Queensland kids are getting the best possible education, wherever they live”.
Mr Wilson said a taskforce would be assembled to work proactively with the department to determine how the new process will work, and strategies that can be implemented to build long term sustainability.
The taskforce will include representatives from the QCPCA, the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPCA), Queensland Association of State School Principals and a special representation of local Mayors.
“This taskforce will reflect the best advice of the community about the role these schools play, often in remote areas.
“This taskforce will remove the burden from parents and schools to prove viability and instead transform the process into one where we work together to build a stronger school based on solid, on-the-ground advice.
“This new taskforce will convene as soon as possible and will meet over the coming months to detail a new, more equitable consultation process.”
Mr Wilson said a longer term, likely three years, would be applied to allow time for real results.
“Schools that are unable to maintain or improve their viability over three years will become part of a further consultation about their future in the fourth year, with a view to closure in that year,” he said.
“This new process allows for the errant dips, peaks and troughs that schools may experience in one year and instead takes a broader look at a history and trend.”
“This is a big a step forward that values the submissions of stakeholders and still reaches for the best for our students, so that we may give each of them a flying start to learning and life no matter where they live,” Mr Wilson said.
Media Contact: 3237 1000
Another school, Peek-a-doo State School would be temporarily closed by default after its enrolments fell to zero before Term 2 this year.
Mr Wilson said it was time to update the process to make sure the emphasis was on keeping schools open, not shutting them down.
“The Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens Association (QCPCA) has been absolutely instrumental in petitioning for a new process to be developed that has at its heart the viability of our schools,” he said.
“Parents have shown just how much they value the role of schools in their areas and have made strong submissions about how a process that values the growth of schools should work.
“We received 182 written submissions from parents and communities regarding these schools and all submissions included thoughtful advice about a way forward.
“The QCPCA has advocated long and hard for a better process and we intend to make that happen.
“It has long been our position that we prefer state schools to remain open and responsive to the broad educational needs of our students.”
Mr Wilson said he recognised that it was counter-productive to potentially expose schools to an annual review process for something that was, by its nature, a longer term matter.
“That’s why we will be looking at a new, three-year consultation process for schools identified as potentially unviable,” he said.
“During the three years, the Department of Education and Training will work with those schools and the local community to boost everything from enrolments to educational opportunity.
“A formal report will be completed each year detailing the progress made to date.”
“After 10 years of the current process, it is time to take a fresh look at how we can make sure that Queensland kids are getting the best possible education, wherever they live”.
Mr Wilson said a taskforce would be assembled to work proactively with the department to determine how the new process will work, and strategies that can be implemented to build long term sustainability.
The taskforce will include representatives from the QCPCA, the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPCA), Queensland Association of State School Principals and a special representation of local Mayors.
“This taskforce will reflect the best advice of the community about the role these schools play, often in remote areas.
“This taskforce will remove the burden from parents and schools to prove viability and instead transform the process into one where we work together to build a stronger school based on solid, on-the-ground advice.
“This new taskforce will convene as soon as possible and will meet over the coming months to detail a new, more equitable consultation process.”
Mr Wilson said a longer term, likely three years, would be applied to allow time for real results.
“Schools that are unable to maintain or improve their viability over three years will become part of a further consultation about their future in the fourth year, with a view to closure in that year,” he said.
“This new process allows for the errant dips, peaks and troughs that schools may experience in one year and instead takes a broader look at a history and trend.”
“This is a big a step forward that values the submissions of stakeholders and still reaches for the best for our students, so that we may give each of them a flying start to learning and life no matter where they live,” Mr Wilson said.
Media Contact: 3237 1000