Labor plagiarises Coalition school autonomy policy

"The Coalition welcomes any move to increase school autonomy by the Labor Government but the devil will be in the detail," Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education said today.

"We have long supported boosting school autonomy and increasing the power of principals to act independently - it was a central component of our policies that we took to the last election," Mr Pyne said.

A recent OECD report comparing student results in a range of subject areas also backed autonomy as a key factor in improving school performance.

"The Government has been a late convert to school autonomy now plagiarising long held Coalition plans after years of criticising them," Mr Pyne said.

"This back-flip begs the question as to how genuine this call for greater school autonomy is and how far the Government will go to make schools more independent. For example, will principals be given full power over staffing, to both hire and fire staff?"

I have a real concern as to whether the Schools Minister, Peter Garrett, has the ability to deliver any policy or promise, after his bungling of the free roof batts program, green loans scheme and solar panels policy.

"Based on his recent record of delaying the national curriculum and announcing, then indefinitely postponing the My School 2.0 website, it seems highly unlikely he can deliver a far reaching school autonomy policy," Mr Pyne.

December 30, 2010

MEDIA CONTACT:

Adam Howard

0400 414 833