Community Alliance Party

Vital neighbourhood schools at the heart of vibrant community hubs was the showpiece of an Education and Training Policy unveiled today at Cook Primary School by the Community Alliance Party.

In launching 'Vital schools, vibrant community hubs' today, Community Alliance Candidate for Ginninderra, Jane Tullis said the Alliance had responded to community needs and economic and environmental arguments.

"Schools are a vital part of healthy local neighbourhoods particularly when closely located with complementary intergenerational activities such as health services, exercise classes, child care and adult learning," Mrs Tullis said. "Such school and community hubs build social capital, reduce our carbon footprint, enhance community health and safety, and ease personal and government costs."

Through three consultation processes since 2006, ACT communities have spoken emphatically about the value of their neighbourhood schools and accompanying community activity, Mrs Tullis said.

"In this policy, the Community Alliance has expanded the vision for our community schools," Mrs Tullis said.

The ACT government has gone part way towards the Alliance model and listening to the community with some former schools to include community services but they are not yet schools. We would rectify this by re-opening a number of schools including Flynn, Hall, Cook and Tharwa based on community support and need.

Some other key commitments in the Community Alliance Policy are to:

• reduce the gap between low and high achieving students in ACT schools
• provide assistance for children who have individual learning and developmental needs
• address behavioural management issues to make schools safer for students and teachers
• ensure that teacher remuneration will be negotiated and finalised prior to the expiration of the current EBA, and will reflect comparative professional pay scales
• recognise the TAFE sector as a valuable public asset and promote teacher recognition and career pathways, along with increased recurrent funding and protection from privatisation.

Contact: Jane Tullis 0404 905 080