Mangement and planning of schools to be more locally focussed

May 28, 1997

The management and planning of Government schools in Western Australia will become more locally-focused as part of the Government's ongoing program of improvement for education in the State.

Education Minister Colin Barnett announced today that changes included the realignment of the Education Department's district boundaries and the implementation of a local area education planning framework to concentrate education planning more at a district, rather than central office level.

Mr Barnett said the changes were part of an on-going steady process of reform started by the Government in 1993 and followed significant initiatives already introduced such as the implementation of a comprehensive early childhood education program, improved technology, curriculum reform and the current revision of the outdated Education Act.

Work has also begun on developing a Centre for Professional Excellence to strengthen and support the teaching profession in WA.

Mr Barnett said that the new Education Department district structure would see:

·      boundaries realigned to create 16 districts; four metropolitan, two outer metropolitan and 10 country in place of the current 29 districts; and-

·      the appointment of 21 District Directors of Schools in place of the present 29 District Superintendents.

All existing district offices would remain open and serve as either the main office for a district, or as a school support centre.

Mr Barnett also released a draft document outlining proposed changes to the responsibility of districts to manage and plan for schools in their region. Called the Local Area Education Planning framework, the document has been released for public comment until July 4.

Mr Barnett said that focusing and strengthening services to schools and students at a local level would allow for greater flexibility and ensure the school system was more responsive to local needs.

"The development and implementation of a local area education planning framework will take into account local knowledge and information and be the responsibility of the new District Directors," Mr Barnett said.

"In the past, education planning has focussed on each school as an individual unit. Schools have had to compete against each other for students and frequently, two or three nearby secondary schools have run the same expensive upper school subject with just a handful of students in each subject.

"Subject choices in some schools have been limited due to a lack of student numbers.

"Local area education planing will address these changes, the availability of resources, and gaps and overlaps in subjects offered to students in any one local area."

Mr Barnett said there would also be changes to the role and responsibilities of the Education Department's central office.

He said that a smaller, more focused central office would concentrate on strategic planning; the development of system-wide policy; guidelines and standards; the redeployment of major resources and the provision of professional leadership.

"The new education structure will allow new departmental initiatives to be delivered at the district level rather than from the central office," Mr Barnett said.

"Issues such as truancy programs, technology development and curriculum initiatives will be progressively developed and delivered from a local level to suit student needs in particular regions.

"The overall objective is to ensure the government school education system focuses more closely on meeting the needs and interests of local school communities, and particularly their students.

"These changes are not designed to save any significant amount of money but make smarter use of the resources available to the Education Department to improve our students' education. Any savings in one area will be redirected into other areas of education.

"There will be voluntary redundancy packages available for people displaced or whose jobs change in both the district and central offices as a result of the new structure.

"Following further consultation with staff and relevant unions, up to 170 voluntary redundancies will be offered at the central and district office level.

"These redundancy packages will save in the order of $7 million each year, but this money will not be lost to the education system. It will be redirected into other areas to assist in the ongoing implementation of the reforms announced today.

"Our schools are doing a great job, but society's expectations of the education system have changed and continue to change. We need to keep a step ahead.

"Students at the threshold of the 21st century have diverse needs and schools can't meet all of them on their own. Schools need support that is located close to the school or easily accessible at a local level."

Mr Barnett said that with a more senior management structure in place at the district level:

·      greater self management will be possible, with increased responsibility and authority to set local education policy, to manage local selection of staff and to resolve issues at the district level;

·      the relationship between schools and their local community will strengthen so schools can respond more effectively and efficiently to community concerns;

·      local area education planning will see the delivery of education in the districts planned in such a way that the educational needs of local students are targeted; and-

·      curriculum services will be better directed.

Mr Barnett said that the new District Directors of Schools' positions would be advertised nationally on Saturday (May 31).

"The new District Directors of Schools will take up their posts during term three and I expect the new district boundaries, office structure and changes to the central office will be in place from the beginning of next year."

Media contact: Justine Whittome (08) 9222 9699