2018 QTU State Budget Submission
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 123 No 2, 9 March 2018, p20
Education and training enjoyed strong support from last year’s State Budget. This was reinforced by election commitments to state education and TAFE that saw much welcomed infrastructure investment.
The new schools to be built, 17 secondary schools that will benefit from a renewal program, and the TAFE campuses that will have improved facilities will no doubt make a huge difference to their communities.
While 2017 saw significant positive outcomes for education and training, there is still more that is needed. As in previous years, the QTU will make a submission to the state government urging it to continue the great work done over the past three years. Due to the timing of the state election at the end of 2017, the QTU varied from its usual development of a budget submission for endorsement at the last State Council of the year. Instead, work is currently being done to prepare the QTU’s 2018 Budget Submission for March Council.
Following endorsement by State Council, a full copy of the submission will be made available on the QTU website.
Areas of major priority will reflect the QTU’s state election claims and elements of the briefing to incoming Education Minister Grace Grace and Training Minister Shannon Fentiman at the end of 2017. These are some of the areas to be incorporated in the budget submission.
- School funding: securing federal government commitment to a funding model that effectively addresses factors of educational disadvantage, and committing to directly providing the state’s share of the funding to schools.
- Curriculum: guaranteeing resources enabling schools to continue to manage curriculum change in both P-10 and senior secondary.
- School infrastructure: an ongoing comprehensive plan for new buildings in existing schools and new schools to cater for massive growth in student enrolments up to 2030; sustaining school maintenance and capital works programs; expanding on the renewal program for older schools; implementing a statewide climate control program.
- Funding enterprise bargaining outcomes: support for small school principals, financial commitment to the review and overhaul of classification structure for school leaders, ongoing implementation of highly accomplished and lead teachers, review and enhancement of remote area incentives.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education: prioritising permanent employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers, supporting and enhancing RATEP.
- Teacher accommodation: committing to the construction or purchase of higher standard accommodation in rural and remote areas.
- TAFE funding: committing to dedicating at least 70 per cent of the state’s training budget to TAFE Queensland, committing to further funding of facility improvements; acknowledging TAFE as the primary VET education provider in the state; amending arrangements to award funding based on actual training delivered.
The QTU acknowledges the Palaszczuk government’s commitment to education and training over the past three years. Further to this, the commitment to consulting with teachers, school leaders and the Union has been commendable. However, the QTU is also keenly aware that while schools can do more with more, they cannot do more with less. If the past few Budgets are an indication of what can be expected, the QTU will look to the Budget in June with great anticipation.