No. 24 
Investing in Education, 
delivering on our commitments

The centrepiece of the 2009-10 ACT Education Budget is funding of $28 million over four years to lower class sizes, Minister for Education, Andrew Barr said today.

The Minister said the Labor Government was committed to delivering on its 2008 election commitment to reduce class sizes to an average of 21 across all years in primary and high schools, and to an average of 19 in colleges.

The Budget also includes $6.396 million over four years to provide specialist teachers to coach other teachers and assist in the development of learning plans to support students who need help with literacy and numeracy.

“The Budget delivers on ACT Labor’s commitments to ensure we have the best teachers in the best facilities teaching ACT students in smaller classes,” Mr Barr said. 

“It also delivers on our commitment to ensure that no student is left behind in literacy and numeracy.

“The Government’s targeted investment in education is as investment in the strength of our economy both now and into the future. This Budget builds on Labor’s record $350 million investment in upgrading and building new schools. 

“It also builds on the work we are doing with Federal Labor to ensure ACT students and workers in the building industry benefit from the extra $230 million that the Commonwealth is investing in our schools under the Building the Education Revolution package,” Mr Barr said.

Highlights for Education in the 2009-10 ACT Budget include:
•	$43.5 million for the construction of Harrison High School to service the growing communities of Harrison, Franklin, Forde and Gungahlin;
•	$7.6 million over three years for a new Performing Arts Theatre at the Canberra College Woden, for use by students from the college, surrounding schools and the local community;
•	$5.4 million additional funding for the Gungahlin College project;
•	$4 million for rainwater tanks and to install solar panels to ensure our schools are more environmentally sustainable; 
•	$984,000 to assist gifted and talented students through the In Pursuit of Excellence program;
•	$691,000 to increase the number of Indigenous teachers and teacher’s assistants working in ACT public schools, through the provision of 10 scholarships available to students in years 11 and 12 who wish to pursue a career in teaching;
•	an extra $3.144 million over four years to provide more support staff to assist students with English as a second language; 
•	$200,000 over four years to improve language education in the ACT by building closer relationships with embassies and cultural institutions to support language delivery in our schools;
•	$4 million over four years to provide additional funding to non government schools to assist students with identified learning needs, socio-economically disadvantaged students and special education students;
•	an extra investment in ensuring all ACT students have access to state-of-the-art ICT equipment with $5 million over three years for ACT public schools and a further $2.5 million in 2009-10 to non government schools; and
•	$1.454 million over four years to allow students to undertake industry based training while remaining in school under the Australian School-Based Apprenticeships program.

5 May 2009
Media Contact: 	Paul Kindermann	6205 1690(w)   0403 600 955(m)