A brave man – or a silly one?

The Chief Executive of the ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Blyth, is either a brave man or a silly one for calling on the ACT Government to cut its funding to the Territory’s schools.

Especially as his pre-budget submission on the subject coincided with the annual National Report on Government Services that showed the ACT leading the country in education and training outcomes.  

The report found the ACT had a ranking of first or equal first in NAPLAN in 2012 across 16 of the 20 areas of testing. In 2013 the NAPLAN assessment showed that the ACT had improved that performance, ranking first or equal first in all 20 areas of testing.

The ACT had the highest proportion of Year 6 students (65.3 per cent) performing at or above the proficient standard in science literacy in 2012. This was 13.9 percentage points above the Australian average.

Mean NAPLAN scores of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students were higher than the national result, as were the proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students achieving at or above the national minimum standard.

The report also found that the ACT had the highest proportion of children enrolled in a preschool program…the success story rolled on and on.

Mr Blyth wanted to know why the ACT Government spent $18,270 a year on each government school student, 30 per cent more than NSW. Perhaps the above figures will give him his answer.

In his submission he wants to see the ACT Government’s expenditure benchmarked against other jurisdictions – many parents would see that as the start of a race to the bottom.

And, of course there is the hint of that tired old argument about the private sector being so much more wonderful than the public when he wants a “business-like discipline” to the Government’s activities.

Business is all about getting results and in education at least, the ACT’s results are apparent. Even if its results were not so good, it would be disastrous for the Government to adopt Mr Blyth’s slash-and-burn suggestions.

Education is the key to so many other areas. An educated population finds answers, whether it is to climate change, or where to build the next housing estate. An educated population is needed to push the boundaries of medical research, to find better ways of alleviating poverty, to create jobs through new industries and for much, much more.

I have travelled in countries where desperately poor people move heaven and earth to give their children an education because they see, as Mr Blyth apparently does not, that it is the only way for them to advance. I have seen villages with no electricity, a rudimentary water supply, where the nearest doctor is a day’s walk away, but where there is still a little school with a teacher imparting knowledge with a blackboard, chalk and a few ancient text books.

Congratulations to the ACT Government for showing the rest of Australia the way in quality education. It should have the thanks of every parent whose children are fortunate enough to be in its school system.

It can only be hoped that the Chamber’s view on this subject is quickly consigned to the trash can.