Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea is encouraging the local community to recognise the valuable contribution made by public schools during Education Week.
This year, Education Week runs from Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August – and marks 60 years since it was first celebrated in 1954.
Mr O’Dea said, “Education Week provides an opportunity to recognise the achievements of public schools, their students, staff and school communities.
“In 1954, the theme for Education Week was ‘lighting the way to a better world’. Much has changed since then, but our local public schools remain committed to that philosophy.
“Let’s use this week as an opportunity to take a closer look at the valuable contribution schools make to our young people and community, and to celebrate and praise their work.”
Mr O’Dea said that in three years the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government has introduced six major reforms:
- Great Teaching, Inspired Learning will improve the quality of teaching and learning by lifting entry requirements for teaching degrees, supporting early career teachers and mandating professional development for every teacher;
- The Resource Allocation Model, backed by our support for Gonski funding reforms, ensures more funding to the schools which need it most;
- Local Schools, Local Decisions provides principals and communities with greater local authority to ensure schools best respond to the needs of their students;
- Every Student, Every School strengthens the support for 90,000 students with disabilities, learning or behavioural needs;
- Connected Communities is an innovative education reform that positions schools as ‘hubs’ in some of NSW’s most complex and disadvantaged communities by linking school education to other services, such as health, welfare, early childhood education and care, and vocational education and training; and
- The $80 million Rural and Remote Education Blueprint for Action will help bridge the gap in educational achievement between city and country students.
“I encourage all members of the community to become involved in the Education Week celebrations at local schools and discover the fantastic work being undertaken by our local teachers and students,” Mr O’Dea said.
