TEACHING QUALITY

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (14:15): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Can the minister inform the house about the results for South Australia on the Smarter Schools, Improving Teacher Quality national partnership?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:15): I thank the member for Florey for this important question. Members who regularly visit our schools will be well aware of the outstanding contribution that teachers make in improving the learning and the achievements of our students. That view is certainly backed up by research and the evidence that shows that quality teaching is the single biggest factor in schools that influences the level of student engagement and achievement.

The Hon. C.C. Fox interjecting:

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Yes, I would like to acknowledge my colleague here sitting next to me, a former teacher. In fact, I read somewhere on the weekend that our teachers are our killer apps, and that is absolutely true.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Killer apps, as in applications on computers. That is why we are actively working with the federal government and our school communities to support and strengthen quality teaching in our schools. In fact, today's report from the COAG Reform Council confirms that we are achieving this. Our federal and state national partnership on improving teacher quality is aimed at driving and rewarding reforms that improve the quality of teaching and leadership in South Australian schools.

This national partnership has invested $6.87 million in facilitation funding to our state since 2008-09, and it may also provide around a further $25.58 million to reward the achievement of reform milestones. I am very pleased to advise the house that South Australia has achieved all 55 milestones in the first round of reward funding and we will receive the full amount of $12.789 million of reward funding available for this round.

There are practical outcomes that will support the profession and the standards of teaching across all school sectors. They include statewide consultations and professional development for teachers on the National Professional Standards for Teachers, the development by my department of a new performance and development policy, the facilitation of a leadership program for 130 aspiring leaders, the provision of 43 country teaching scholarship programs, school centres for excellence that promote high-quality extended teaching experiences, and mentoring for final year pre-service teachers in difficult-to-staff locations. Further, new training courses and skill sets have been offered to school service officers and Aboriginal community education officers to support their work.

I am pleased, too, that our own South Australian Public Teaching Awards are providing an opportunity for the wider community to acknowledge and honour our outstanding teachers, school and preschool leaders, and support staff, because it is important that we recognise the value of quality teaching and the difference that that makes to every chance for every child in our community.