ALA

Wednesday, 10 September 2008

Victorians are being urged to contribute to the third National Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians, Education Minister Bronwyn Pike said today.

Developed by the Ministerial Council for Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs, the Declaration by Australian Education Ministers is reviewed every 10 years to set new goals and directions for Australian schooling. 

“The debate on education is a vital for any country and the draft Declaration further demonstrates the Victorian Government’s commitment to support all young Victorians to become successful learners, confident individuals and active and informed citizens,” Ms Pike said.

“It also outlines a commitment to action by all Australian state governments to work with the education system to realise our educational goals for young people.”

“I invite all Victorian parents, teachers and anyone else interested in this vital debate to make their views known by responding to this draft Declaration to set these young people on an educational course for the next decade.”

Ms Pike said the 2008 draft Declaration aimed to ensure that Victoria and the national education systems were well-equipped to meet the needs of the country in the next decade and will include:

•    Development of stronger partnerships with parents, the community and business;
•    Strengthening early childhood education;
•    Supporting effective transition from early childhood to middle years and future pathways;
•    Improving the quality of teaching and school leadership;
•    Developing world-class curriculum and assessment;
•    Improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged young Australians; and 
•    Increasing accountability and transparency.

“How Victorian young people respond to political, environmental, social and technological challenges depends on how and what they learn now,” Ms Pike said.

Ms Pike said the Declaration would build on Victoria’s new five-year education reform agenda designed to deliver excellence in schools across the State and give young Victorians every opportunity to achieve their full potential.

“Victoria’s new education blueprint will provide better leadership throughout schools, better support for parents to involve them in their child’s learning and a restructure of school networks statewide will be the drivers for future excellence in education in Victoria,” she said.

To view the draft National Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians and submit comments, visit the Ministerial Council for Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) website at www.mceetya.edu.au/mceetya/. 

Submissions close on 3 October 2008.