FROM THE FRONT: National Education Authority
The Australian Council of State School Organisation (ACSSO), Australia’s peak council for parent and citizen groups, is delighted to support the establishment of the National Education Authority to bring together responsibility for curriculum, testing and reporting at the national level.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education Julia Gillard earlier this month announced the agreement of the members of the Council of Australian Government to form the new authority, a significant step forward for the Education Revolution being promoted by Ms Gillard and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd since their election to government.
ACSSO President Jenny Branch called the establishment of the National Education Authority a victory for common sense.
“It has never made sense to separate testing from curriculum and reporting. ACSSO has been pushing a move like this for some time,” Ms Branch said.
“A national curriculum and its implications will be the first item on the agenda for ACSSO’s annual National Conference, which opens in Brisbane on 20 October.”
“We look forward to including discussion of the National Education Authority at the Conference.”
- Read the ACSSO media release: click here
- Visit the ACSSO National Conference website: click here
ACSSO EDITORIAL:
A fresh perspective on Australian education issues that are making news - or ought to be.
11-11-08: ACSSO National Conference Brings Education Back to the Community
The Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO) is delighted with the outcomes of its Brisbane Conference held on October 20th and 21st.
The open Conference drew key players from most parts of the education sector, an ideal environment in which the key strategic questions about family school partnerships and the new national curriculum came under intensive focus.
Queensland Education Minister the Hon Rod Welford opened the Conference by recognizing the value of parents being engaged at a local, state and national level in the discussions about the direction of modern education. He noted the regular meetings and close liaison he enjoyed with ACSSO’s Queensland affiliate QCPCA.
The first session featured presentations and a panel facilitated by Deputy Chair of the National Curriculum Board, Tony Mackay and others who addressed the key issues surrounding a new national curriculum.
All noted that curriculum means more than what is taught in the classroom or what is tested for assessment purposes. Schools were more than academic result-producing machines but were in fact that also helped socialize and assist the personal development of students ... read more
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