31/07/01
A $28 million program to improve behaviour and discipline in the State's high schools has been launched today by Education Minister Alan Carpenter.
The Behaviour Management and Discipline program will target about 40 high schools with more staff to reduce class sizes, behaviour management training for teachers and funding for behaviour management programs.
The program over four years, which fulfils a Government election commitment, will target teenage students in Years 8 and 9, making the transition from primary to high school.
"This is a critical stage for their education and prospects in life," Mr Carpenter said.
"Students' behaviour at this age not only affects their own education but those of other students in their classes.
"The aim is to provide a safer, more supportive learning environment for students and more resources to better deal with specific behaviour-based problems.
"It will build on the good work already done in schools in this area."
Mr Carpenter said the program would involve annual funding of:
- $3 million for extra teachers to reduce class sizes in Years 8 and 9;
- $2.5 million for high schools to deal with behaviour management issues. This could include out-of-school programs, employing extra staff (particularly from ethnic backgrounds), youth workers and school-based specialist programs;
- $1 million for behaviour management training for 600 teachers. Initially 120 teachers from 40 schools in the country and metropolitan area will benefit; and
- $500,000 for specific behaviour management and discipline issues in schools. This will provide specialist support for students with severe behavioural problems.
"Parents have told us schools should provide a safe, supportive, caring and responsive learning environment for their children," Mr Carpenter said.
"This program is one of a number of Government initiatives that will ensure Government schools provide the education we expect for our children.
"It will involve teachers, students, parents and the broader community working together to create the best possible learning environment."
The program aims to fund initiatives to:
- increase retention rates;
- decrease suspensions and exclusions; and
- decrease the number of violent incidents in schools.
Mr Carpenter said individual schools to benefit from the program had been identified by the Department of Education, based on a number of factors including attendance, behavioural problems and socio-economic factors.
The program had been launched at Girrawheen Senior High School which, with Balga and Mirrabooka Senior High Schools, formed the
New North Compact - a successful initiative to address student learning, behaviour and community relationships.
Mr Carpenter said these schools, which would benefit under the program, were an example of how the additional resources could be used.
Other high schools in the program include: Armadale, Balcatta, Belmont City College, Broome, Cannington, Carnarvon, Cecil Andrews, Clarkson, Collie, Coodanup, Derby, Eastern Goldfields, Esperance, Fitzroy Crossing, Forrestfield, Gosnells, Governor Stirling, Hamilton, Hedland, Katanning, Kelmscott, Kent Street, Kununurra, Kwinana, Lockridge, Mandurah, Manjimup, Newton Moore, North Albany, Northam, Rockingham, Safety Bay, South Fremantle, Swan View, Toodyay and Warnbro.
Media contact: Owen Cole - 9213 6800
