Call for bi-partisan approach to rationalisation

22/3/94

Education Minister Norman Moore has called for a bipartisan and non-political approach to the vital community issue of school rationalisation.

Mr Moore made the call today following a ministerial statement to the Legislative Council, in which he re-affirmed his commitment that no school would close without the informed agreement of the majority of parents involved.

The Minister asked for the support of both sides of Parliament to ensure that a fair and open process of the management of education resources could be carried out free of political intervention.

"This is essential to ensure that the education opportunities are maximised for students in Western Australia," Mr Moore said.

"The cornerstone of the rationalisation process is that every student's education opportunity will either be maintained or enhanced."

The Minister said the previous government put in place a school renewal program with many characteristics similar to the current consultation process.

"I can only reinforce the statement made by the then Education Minister Kay Hallahan that the school renewal program should not be a political football."

Mr Moore again emphasised that the comprehensive school rationalisation process would involve detailed consultation with the community.

Schools identified by the first phase of the process, which centred on data available in the Education Department, would be involved in further thorough consultation about social impact and other local criteria.

"In the event that a school is not excluded from the recommendation for amalgamation of closure, that school community will then be asked to vote on its future, but only after the range of educational options available have been made clear to them," the Minister said.

"I have every confidence that parents will make a sound judgement as to where their children will be able to obtain the best quality of education."

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