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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-09-20 Daily Xml
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GONSKI EDUCATION REVIEW

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (12:54): I move:

That this house notes the Gonski report and indicates its support for educational reforms that are progressive and cater for all students.

The motion is not quite a fence-sitter. I personally support most of what is in Gonski but I think it is important that we debate these issues. Some people may disagree with the report and this gives people an opportunity, whatever their view, and whatever the view of their electorate, to indicate it here.

The term 'Gonski' has now become part of the language. People say 'You're a Gonski' or 'You're going to be Gonski'. I think it was important for the federal government to commission the Gonski report. In the report, Professor Gonski and his team have indicated that Australia has a relatively high-performing schooling system when compared to international benchmarks such as the Program for International Student Assessment.

The first point is that the report is not a damning indictment of our education system, and by 'system' I include state systems, Catholic and independent in that terminology. Whilst we can do better and, certainly, the Gonski report indicates how that might be achieved, the first point is that it is not a report that is damning in terms of what is happening in our schools in Australia or in recent times at least.

However, despite that general positive assessment, the report indicates that there has been a decline at all levels of achievement in Australia in the last decade, particularly at the higher end of scholastic achievement. For example, in 2000, only one country outperformed Australia in reading and scientific literacy and only two outperformed Australia in mathematical literacy. In 2009, six countries outperformed Australia in reading and scientific literacy and 12 outperformed Australia in mathematical literacy. So there is a gap in regard to our highest and lowest performing students and that is where Professor Gonski and his colleagues suggested that we need to do more and have suggested ways in which we can improve performance.

One point that the Gonski report highlights is the need to tackle more vigorously, and better fund, students who are disadvantaged as a result of low socioeconomic background, those from Indigenous backgrounds and so on. I think that is good and I believe we should spend significantly in those areas.

There is one significant deficiency in this report, and I think that there are a couple of others. One is that there is no focus on children at the other end of the spectrum, the talented and gifted, and many of them are discriminated against because our system in many aspects does not cater for children who are talented and gifted. Whilst we need to address the issue of disadvantage, whether it be as a result of economic circumstances or some physical or mental disability, whatever it may be, we also need to focus on the children who have a particular talent or gift, whether it is musical or other forms of academic achievement, because I do not believe the current system, across the whole board, does that. In regard to Gonski, I think that that is one area they did not pay enough attention to. I have written to the Prime Minister pointing out what I believe is a deficiency in the report.

I do not think anyone in here would argue against helping those who need greater support. I personally came from a family which was by no means well off, in fact it was quite the opposite, but education was seen as the key to trying to improve your lifestyle and opportunities in life. Everyone in our family has taken advantage of our education system. One sister married a millionaire. That is another option. It is an easier option than the academic one, and you get to travel around the world every year, but when you go down the academic path, you only go to places like Victor Harbor or probably the Barossa if you are especially lucky. I seek leave to conclude my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.


[Sitting suspended from 13:00 to 14:00]


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