Victorian State Education Funding Review

Members of sMAG have been extremely busy in preparation for the Sounds Great conference.  We congratulate Kevin and the AMUSE committee on a wonderfully successful conference.  It was inspiring to say the least!  

We also thank the members of our community that came along to the sMAG open committee meeting.  It was very pleasing to see the Plaza Room full, and many questions and discussions coming forward.

We now turn our attention to the Victorian State Education Funding Review - headed up by Steve Bracks.

 It is rather easy in terms of the lack of formality in the online presentation - 

Victorian government review into State School Education funding: http://educationstate.education.vic.gov.au/school-funding-review?tool=survey_tool&tool_id=make-a-submission20#tool_tab  sMAG  will make a formal submission, and we encourage all in the community to consider either taking the survey or making a more formal submission around the T of R.  Within all submission processes, there is weight in numbers - so if you have the time, please make a submission.

This Review publication has been circulated online and around school groups at large over a period of around 6 weeks now.

It is feasible to consider submissions around the fact that only 2% of funding allocations go towards music, LOTE etc. Perhaps arguments can be mounted around the percentage of funding can and should be raised if a reform agenda towards specialisation in face to face teaching is going to be achieved.  The TEMAG report at recommendation 18 and the international data on improvements in learning outcomes with an creased time allocations towards specialisation delivery.  The consultation paper available on the Vic review website, carries a consultation paper.  There are clear indications within this document that a move towards funding specialisation teachers is within the parameters of the Vic government thinking.

If we are going to achieve 100% of State School children, it is going to need funding somehow.

You may believe you are in a place to submit.

Please read the online documents here http://educationstate.education.vic.gov.au/ - they are a very easy read - and see if you are in a place to either fill in the survey or make a submission by July 31.

Thanks in advance!