Productivity Commission Report into Education

Shadow Minister for Education, Nick Wakeling
Reports today that despite the billions of extra dollars for education given to state governments, there has been no improvement in student performance, should concern all Victorian parents.
The Productivity Commission draft report is the clearest evidence yet that Daniel Andrews and James Merlino have the wrong priorities when it comes to the education of Victorian children.
According to the Productivity Commission draft report, National Education Evidence Base, student performance has failed to improve or even gone backwards, despite spending per student increasing by 14% over the last 10 years.
The report says that “Without improving and applying evidence to policy-making and teaching in schools and classrooms, there is a substantial risk that increased resourcing of schools will continue to deliver disappointing outcomes”.
Despite the fact the federal government has given Daniel Andrews billions of extra dollars for education, the latest NAPLAN results show that this has had almost no impact upon the literacy and numeracy standards of Victorian students.
Daniel Andrews and James Merlino seem more interested in playing politics and forcing their values on other people’s children than making sure Victorian schools teach kids to read and write.
While money is important, how it is spent is more important.
More of the same won’t work. That’s why the Liberal Nationals are focusing on policies that shift the conversation from just being about how much money is spent to a focus on evidence-based solutions that put the education of our children first.
Source: http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/education-evidence/draft/education-evidence-draft.pdf

Media contact:  Hannah Pandel        0409 234 530   hannah.pandel@opposition.vic.gov.au