Parents respond to the Masters Review

After discussion of the Queensland Education Performance Review (QEPR) at the recent State Committee meeting, the Federation made its submission on the recommendations by Professor Geoff Masters in the review. Whilst the Federation was supportive of a number of the recommendations including additional professional development for teachers, it also had a number of concerns including the funding of the proposed initiatives and the omission of parents as significant partners in the reform process.

A short summary of the Federation's recommendations follows: 

o       The Federation believes that all teachers who graduate from a pre service training course should have the basic skills in literacy, numeracy and science and that it is the responsibility of the tertiary institutions to ensure that the these skills are taught and examined during the course.

o       The present testing regime is not exclusively related to the primary sector and the Federation would expect that all teachers, whether primary or secondary trained, would be required to reach an acceptable standard in oral and written literacy before graduation.

o       The Federation is not supportive of introducing another test to an already overloaded testing system if it becomes another ‘external’ test. It should be the responsibility of the classroom teacher to be able to accurately assess and report on all subjects in the curriculum. Not all children progress at the same rate and the Federation would question the effectiveness of age related tests.

o       Parents expect that teachers are able to continually assess their students and, in partnership with them, improve the performance of the student where it is below the required standard and to extend the learning of those students who can achieve at an advanced competency level. Basically parents wish to know at what level their student is operating and how they can assist in improving performance.

o       The Federation believes that the establishment of authentic partnerships between the school and the home will have a much greater affect on performance than the introduction of more testing.

o       The Federation has concerns with the cost of such initiatives if they are to be borne by the sector with no additional financial assistance.

o       Parents wish to be engaged at all levels of responsibility for the education of their students for it is with them that the responsibility for their children’s, and ultimately the nation’s, future rests.

The complete submission can be accessed by clicking here  school communities are invited to discuss the implications of the recommendations for parents, teachers and students. 

To view the full report click here

[NIB Vol 28 No 4 June 2009]