SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION

Mr KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:23): My question is to the Minister for Education.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr KOUTSANTONIS: How is the government assisting secondary schools to prepare for the new South Australian Certificate of Education?

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH (Adelaide—Minister for Education, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:23): I thank the member for West Torrens for his question. I know he is both supportive and interested in senior secondary education and, in fact, is a great supporter of Adelaide High School and its current and former students, and its future ones.

The new South Australian Certificate of Education, which begins in 2009 as part of the $84 million school to work strategy to develop the skills and values of young people and ensure that they are connected to school, work or training, is part of a very broad reform agenda in the senior secondary years. It includes an investment of $54.5 million in supporting Catholic, independent and government schools to implement the new SACE system.

There has been extensive community consultation on the development of the new SACE. Indeed, today I have responded positively to the recommendations contained in a parliamentary report, which was a result of a further inquiry into the SACE, which has been tabled in another place. This inquiry was carried out by the Social Development Committee, and resulted in its 27^th report. I take this opportunity to particularly thank those members of the committee and those many members of the community who took the time to contribute in their deliberations.

This year, our state budget delivered $16.8 million to support the introduction of the new SACE. Within that, funds of $4.8 million will assist professional development and the piloting of specific programs as part of the government's support of teachers. Indeed, from next week, more than 500 school leaders, including deputy principals and curriculum coordinators from the Catholic, government and independent sectors, will be involved in forums across South Australia in preparation for the new SACE. In addition, some 500 teachers are expected to attend 12 workshops in August and September as part of a series of training workshops to discuss the personal learning plan. This is the first subject that next year's year 10 students will undertake as part of the new SACE.

We are also investing in ways to strengthen the links between school, work and training while students undertake their senior secondary certificate. For example, 60 grants, totalling $1.9 million, are currently enabling 48 secondary schools to work with industry, universities and local communities to create school to work innovative programs. The school to work grants will total $5.7 million over three years and include further grants in 2009 and 2010.

Professional development and consultation will continue to be provided to schools throughout the implementation of the new SACE because we know that teachers and school leaders are integral to young people achieving a relevant and rigorous secondary school qualification for the future. I commend both the report and the response to the house.