News
In the nine years since I was first elected, I have enjoyed the opportunity to share news and views through 29 issues of
Morialta Matters. I hope that you continue to find this a useful insight into some of the key issues that impact our area and our state, as well as an opportunity to celebrate some of the great work done in our local community.
788 Ms STINSON (Badcoe) (14 May 2019). What is the breakdown of FTEs by position in the Office of the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People?
The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education): I have been advised of the following:
Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:54): My question is to the Minister for Education. Given that there are again problems with the NAPLAN online testing today, will the minister pull the plug and admit that the results will not be valid for the students who have experienced disruptions?
The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (14:54): I thank the member for the question. Her continual catastrophisation of the way that this is going, I think, really sends a very different message from that which she expressed throughout her entire ministerial career. The NAPLAN is not meant to be a high-stakes test that should determine the outcomes for students' future education, future life. This is not a students' SACE—
Dr Close interjecting:
Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:58): My question is to the Minister for Education. Does he minister stand by his statement that paper tests and online tests are comparable?
The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (14:58): The point I have made is that there was significant analysis into whether the 2018 online tests and the 2018 paper tests were comparable. The Education Council was hosted by South Australia, and I have to say that was a very enjoyable experience hosting the other ministers and bringing them to South Australia last year. South Australia also offered to host the review on behalf of the Education Council.
Mrs POWER (Elder) (15:00): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister please update the house on the research competition to mark the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage?
The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (15:00): I am conscious of the time, and I want to ensure that the opposition has more questions, so I will update the house, but I certainly won't take four minutes to do so. I want to pay tribute—
Members interjecting:
786 Ms STINSON (Badcoe) (14 May 2019). What are the funding arrangements for the Office of the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People over the forward estimates?
The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education): I have been advised of the following:
787 Ms STINSON (Badcoe) (14 May 2019). What is the FTE allocation for the Office of the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People?
The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education): I have been advised of the following:
Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:01): My question is to the Minister for Education. Does the minister accept responsibility for the distress caused to students yesterday during the NAPLAN Online disruption?
The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (15:01): I thank the member for the question, although I am disappointed in the way that she has phrased it because, of course, the government is progressing the NAPLAN Online rollout to the timetable set when the member for Port Adelaide was the minister for education.
Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (11:51): I move:
That this house—
(a) recognises the importance of delivering a world-class public education system to South Australia's primary and secondary students;
(b) calls on the state government to set a minimum ATAR score for university entry into a Bachelor of Education; and
(c) congratulates all South Australian teachers on their commitment and professionalism to the students of South Australia.
As we all know, teachers have a profound influence during our childhood and teenage years, the formative years of our lives. They are responsible for inspiring, guiding and above all teaching us the skills that we need to survive and thrive in the real world.
As a student, you always remember the good teachers and you also remember the not so good teachers, but for different reasons. Students need teachers who are skilled, who inspire them and are driven themselves. A wise person once told me—and research has proven this—that the level of a student's academic ability will not surpass that of their teacher's in that given year. What that basically means is that if you have a poorly performing teacher, you are going to have a poorly performing student for that period of time.
689 Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (2 April 2019). What is the total capital cost of moving year 7 into high school?
The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education): While some of the funds announced for new capital are only necessary to enable capacity for the inclusion of year 7s, it is important to note that a significant proportion is also to meet the growing capacity needs that many of these schools were facing even without the year 7s. It is also noteworthy that a significant proportion of the announced capital investment will go towards specialist learning areas that will benefit other students at the school in addition to the year 7s.
