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- 6 September 2006
Plain English Student Reports
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Page: 1546
Mr KEVIN GREENE: I direct my question to the Minister for Education and Training. What is the New South Wales Government doing to deliver plain English student reports for parents?
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: The New South Wales Government believes that the involvement of parents in their children's education is vital. Research shows that the more parents can be involved in their children's education, the better the children do. An important part of communicating with parents and involving them in their child's education is the report they receive from their child's teacher. The Government has been working hard for some time to improve the reports provided to parents. The report produced by Professor Ken Eltis, "Time to teach—Time to learn", states that we need greater consistency in reporting across schools, and provides clear guidelines on the mandatory elements of school reports.
The report states that parents are disappointed with the current reporting methods and that they find reports difficult to understand. It also states that teachers and parents think it is time for consistency in reporting methods across New South Wales and that parents want clear grades to help them understand their child's academic progress. In response to those concerns, the Government has set a new direction for student reports, and it is keen to get on with the job. It is determined to give parents the information they need to support their child to succeed at school. The Government is on track with the introduction of new reports this year. The Board of Studies has already conducted workshops on the new reporting system involving more than 1,000 school principals and other school leaders. Further meetings will be held by the end of this term to ensure that the new system is bedded down for the reports to be issued by term four.
Not only has the State Government taken a keen interest in student reporting; the Commonwealth Government is also interested in this issue. The State Government has had to comply with the Commonwealth Government's funding requirements, and Commonwealth Ministers have made it clear that compliance with the Commonwealth Government's reporting rules is a strict condition of funding. There is no doubt that this is a significant change in our schools. As with all change, it is challenging for both teachers and parents, and it is a challenge that the State Government is determined to meet. Given that we are working in a changing and challenging environment and that the Commonwealth Government is insisting that these changes occur this year, it would be useful if it were able to maintain a consistent position with regard to student reporting.
The State Government has always been concerned about the fact that the Commonwealth Government wants to be involved so closely in the day-to-day running of our schools because it does not have the experience to do that properly. It does not run schools; it does not educate students. Its lack of experience and awareness of how schools work is clear for all to see. For an issue that the Commonwealth Government believes is so important that it threatened to withhold all school funding—$3.7 billion over four years—the Commonwealth has shown a remarkably cavalier attitude to what it wants. Honourable members might ask what is the Commonwealth's position on A to E reporting. One would think that on an issue as straightforward as this it could stick to a consistent line. Dr Nelson, the education Minister at the time, was keeping it simple when he announced on 3 July last year:
The condition of funding is that the NSW Government must make sure that from next year school performance is clearly made available to all parents and that school reports are written in plain language—A, B, C, D and E.
That statement was on Brendan Nelson's web site when he was education Minister. Having seen the example set by New South Wales when we launched our student reports last year, Dr Nelson informed the Federal Parliament on 17 August that because parents would receive information in the form of grades A to E, he should inform the New South Wales Government that it was moving in the right direction. Even junior Commonwealth Ministers are getting in on the act, with Minister Hardgrave saying in Federal Parliament on 6 June this year:
We think that the best teachers are going to be welcoming the chance to have parents know that their students are achieving an A outcome, a B outcome, a C outcome or whatever. No one has anything to fear.
It is now clear. We thought that was an unequivocal position from the Commonwealth Government; that is, report students' achievements in grades A to E or lose the funding. However, that apparent consistency from the Commonwealth Government was too good to last. On 3 August this year the new Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training told the media that parents could opt out of the reporting system. The media understood the message. The Daily Telegraph reported it as follows:
The new school report card system is in disarray after the Federal Government admitted yesterday that parents could refuse to have their children graded A to E.
Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop told the Daily Telegraph parents could instead order a report prepared under the existing formats for students up to Year 10.
Not under her regulations! We are not sure exactly what the Minister was talking about. On 21 August this year the Federal Minister is reported in the Sydney Morning Herald as saying:
If the state Government is mandating literal A-E, that is up to them.
Which is it? It is no wonder that the Primary Principals Association is confused about the Commonwealth Government's position. Sue Ingram, the association's president, said this morning:
I think it's like most things. It's the fact that the Federal Government has changed the goal posts.
The Commonwealth Government's confusion is nothing compared with the confusion on the part of members opposite. Of course, they do not have any big policy ideas on this issue. Their position depends on who is asked, and when. It is as though they toss a coin on the day to see what position they will take on student reports. For example, when the Government announced the reports, the honourable member for Wakehurst told us that we had not gone far enough. He said:
…the new report still failed to contain enough meaningful information for parents.
"For years parents have pleaded for reports that are presented simply and which allow them to know how their child is progressing."
Then he appeared on ABC television on 3 June and said—
Mr Brad Hazzard: I get around, don't I! Thanks for noticing.
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: You do.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Wakehurst will come to order.
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: On 3 June the honourable member for Wakehurst said:
Labelling little children as failures is counter-productive.
I am surprised to hear that the honourable member, who is the shadow spokesperson on education, thinks that honest reporting to parents in some way constitutes labelling children. Parents have a right to know how their children are going at school; they want to know whether their children are doing well or poorly. It is not about labelling children; it is about honest and clear reporting. I suggest that the honourable member talk to some of his colleagues. If he did, he would find that when they talk to parents that is what they hear. On the same day on 2GB, the honourable member for Wakehurst took a different view when he said:
Procedures and grades are fine for high school and fine for senior primary school.
Then on 1 August, he said:
The whole system should simply be dumped.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of The Nationals will cease calling out.
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: The honourable member for Wakehurst's education policies are a throw-back to the 1970s. They belong with sports days that have no scores and exams that have no results. They are simply not the real world. Parents deserve accurate, honest information. The honourable member does not appear to have consulted his leader or the other members of his party. The Leader of the Opposition stated on 2GB that there is merit in gradings. He said:
There's one thing we need to do for parents and that is provide more information about the schooling of their kids. That's the critical objective.
And what about the honourable member for Lachlan, a member of The Nationals? In a letter to the Lachlander on 25 August he said:
Without a system of comparative gradings amongst peers we will give students an unfair impression of what professional life is all about after school.
Coalition members are all over the shop in regard to student reports. They cannot agree. They have no idea. They have no policies. This is one of the most critical issues confronting parents today.
Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order: We made it quite clear that we are concerned particularly about young children. If you can give an assurance—
Mr SPEAKER: What is your point of order? This is not a debate; it is question time.
Mr Brad Hazzard: You need to know how your children are progressing, but there is no point—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Wakehurst will resume his seat unless he has a point of order to take.
[Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I order the honourable member for Wakehurst to resume his seat. The Minister for Education and Training has the call.
[Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Wakehurst to order for the second time.
[Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Wakehurst to order for the third time.
[Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms to remove the honourable member for Wakehurst.
[The honourable member for Wakehurst left the Chamber, accompanied by the Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms.]
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: The truth clearly hurts. The honourable member for Wakehurst has been found out. His educational policies belong back in the 1970s.
Mr Barry O'Farrell: Point of order: If the standing orders were clearer and upheld better, that would not have happened.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for casting aspersions on the Chair.
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: The New South Wales Government is confident that its new student reports will deliver clear and honest information to parents about how their children are progressing at school.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Lane Cove will come to order.
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: This is what parents want. We will continue to consult with stakeholders but we would like some consistency from the Commonwealth Government. Parents deserve that.
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