Community feedback will help shape future of education

8/7/97

More than 370 responses from parents, teachers and school communities will help shape the future planning and management of Western Australia's 770 primary and secondary schools under the Education Department.

The submissions were received during a five-week consultation period on the draft Local Area Education Planning framework.

Education Minister Colin Barnett welcomed community feedback on the document and said that while the formal period of public consultation had ended, the Education Department would continue to receive submissions throughout July.

"There has been some concern that the public consultation period was not enough time for some school communities, particularly in rural and remote areas, to consider the draft framework," Mr Barnett said.

"The Education Department will accept submissions during the rest of July. It must be remembered that the consultation period was for feedback on the way local area planning is proposed to be carried out and not on plans for any changes in the education districts."

Mr Barnett said that a reference group from all major interest groups would be established to analyse feedback and provide recommendations for changes to the planning framework.

"After the planning framework has been finalised, extensive consultation will take place in each local area community to determine the most appropriate plan for that area," he said.

"The Education Department's district directors of schools will consult with their local communities in this process and submit their plans to the Education Department.

"In areas where there is a greater need to make changes, such as in some areas of Perth like Swanbourne, City Beach and Scarborough, preliminary planning has already begun."

Mr Barnett said he expected that for many schools, there would be little or no change to their management or structure. Any changes would, however, be developed in consultation with school communities on the basis of improving education for current and future students in that region.

"There will be no rapid changes to education or schools in WA," he said.

"Once the planning and consultation phase has been finalised, implementation of the plans will begin. The implementation will be long-term, probably into the next century."

Mr Barnett also said there had been a significant response to an advertisement seeking 21 district directors of schools to head the Education Department's realigned district structure.

"More than 80 applications were received from around Australia which I think is a compliment to the excellent education system we have in Western Australia," he said.

"It is heartening to see that there are so many people interested in playing a leadership role in education.

"The Education Department expects to appoint the district directors of schools in August."

Media contact: Justine Whittome (08) 9222 9699