Parents pay for teacher aides
Wednesday, 03 March 2010 14:10
Dr Bruce Flegg MPShadow Minister for Education & TrainingMember for Moggill3 March 2010
Parents pay for teacher aides
Parents of prep students at a Brisbane state school have been asked to personally pay the cost of employing a teacher aide full time for their children, the LNP said today.
Parents at Rainworth State School have been asked to pay $600 for each prep child to meet the cost of a full time teacher aide.
Shadow Minister for Education Dr Bruce Flegg said too many schools P&C committees were being forced to ask parents to make up the shortfall in government funding at state schools.
"This is a worrying trend, which sends concerning messages about the proposed reforms in education, such as the introduction of pre-prep and the moving of year 7," Dr Flegg said.
"The introduction of the prep year was marred by failures to provide adequate resources, especially teacher aides.
"The staffing shortage is an ongoing problem as the request for parents to pay for a full time teacher aide shows.
"Having 25 to 30 four-year-olds in one class with only part time assistance is an unreasonable expectation on prep teachers and it could hardly be described as a conducive or ideal learning environment for the children."
Dr Flegg said the LNP had been calling for full time teacher aides for all prep since prep year began.
"The education department has a $7.8 billion budget which should be focused on providing front line education services.
"This is a responsibility that should fall on the Government, not be shifted onto parents."
Media contact: Leonie Shepherd - 0414 794 796