Children of the revolution behind Eastern Europe
12 Dec 2012
Media release International testing showing year four students whose entire schooling occurred under Labor's so-called 'Education Revolution' are dramatically falling behind by international standards.
This testing leaves Labor's education credentials in tatters, said the Shadow Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne today.
"Julia Gillard promised nothing short of an Education Revolution in 2007 and now the report card is in - Australian students were beaten by many countries in maths and science, and all other English-speaking countries in reading,” Mr Pyne said.
"The Schools Minister Peter Garrett claims these results are a 'wake-up call', but what has Labor been doing for the last five years? Julia Gillard, our so-called Education Prime Minister needs to explain where the Education Revolution went wrong.
"How has the MySchool website, costing $32,000 a month, lifted student outcomes?
"How have the $2.6 billion spent on computers and $16.2 billion spent on school halls lifted student outcomes?
"How have the billions in national partnership funding, including $540 million targeted towards literacy and numeracy which the Auditor-General found to be flawed and ineffective, lifted student outcomes?
"How has the Australian Education Bill full of meaningless motherhood statements lifted student outcomes?
"Labor's promised education revolution is an international joke. Mr Garrett is right - this is a wake-up call to every Australian wondering who to trust in education. Labor has delivered five years of record waste, mismanagement and squandered billions of dollars. Labor now wants to spend tens of billions more and brush their record of failure under the carpet.
“The Coalition is offering policies focussed on lifting student outcomes. Our relentless focus on teacher quality, principal autonomy and a robust curriculum will be the drivers to lift the performance of our students.
"Australians cannot trust Julia Gillard and Labor to introduce school funding changes, her so-called 'Education Revolution' has failed and her so-called 'Education Crusade' is just more meaningless spin over substance," Mr Pyne said.
December 12, 2012