News and Events | Page 7 of 7 | AISSA
Media Statement: Congratulations to Class of 2018
The AISSA Chief Executive, Mrs Carolyn Grantskalns, has congratulated all students whose hard work and effort have led to them completing the South Australian Certificate for Education. Mrs Grantskalns also congratulated all students who completed their International Baccalaureate studies this year. She said: “Finishing schooling is an important milestone in the lives of young people and I wish each one of them well in whatever the future holds for them”.
Media Release: Government releases SACE review, Hon John Gardner MP
The State Government has released the review of the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), which outlines 16 recommendations for improving the certificate.
The independent review, led by highly regarded principal Ms Wendy Johnson, was informed by extensive consultation and received numerous submissions, including over 1500 survey responses.
Key recommendations include removing the compulsory 10 credit Research Project from Stage 2 and replacing it with a redesigned 10 credit Research Project at Stage 1 of the SACE, with options for a specialised research project for students wishing to focus on vocational, service and entrepreneurial pathways.
An optional 20 credit Research Project would also be available in Stage 2 as a stand-alone subject.
An implication of this recommendation would result in many students undertaking five Stage 2 subjects in order to receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) for university entrance, in line with other states and territories.
Other notable recommendations include developing industry-led framework subjects in the curriculum such as cyber security or healthy aging, and improvements relating to the recognition of Vocational Education and Training (VET).
Education Minister John Gardner welcomed the review and said the SACE Board were now working through the recommendations.
Please refer to the full media release, which includes a link to download the the full SACE Review..
Media Release: AISSA appalled by misleading and inaccurate school funding article
The AISSA is appalled that the ABC would release such a misleading and inaccurate portrayal of school funding ‘Counting the Cost of the Education Revolution’. The article is clearly intended to suggest that non-government schools are being funded at the cost of government schools which is patently false given that the Commonwealth Government is the majority government funder of non-government schools while State Governments are the majority government funder of government schools. The story fails to take into account the key characteristics, including students with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and other critical factors such as school size that influence the levels of government funding a school receives. The failure to publicly identify the non-government schools suggests a deliberate attempt to find anomalies that support their case. Australians have a right to expect better from the national broadcaster.
Media Contact: Carolyn Grantskalns 08 8179 1400
Australian Government Funding Announcement
The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia (AISSA) welcomes the Australian Government’s decision to extend for a further twelve months the interim school funding arrangements for non-government schools.
Speaking after the announcement by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Education AISSA Chief Executive, Mrs Carolyn Grantskalns, noted that this decision provides SA Independent schools with certainty for 2019. “Schools are well into their budgeting and planning processes and it is critical that they are able to do so with confidence.”
Mrs Grantskalns further welcomed the Government’s acknowledgement that significant work is needed to resolve some fundamental issues before the recommendations of the Review of SES Methodology can be implemented and its commitment to phase in the new model to minimise the impact on schools negatively affected by changes. “This decision will enable Independent schools and their communities to have confidence that the new arrangements will be valid, fair and equitable and that schools will be provided with the opportunity to plan. I look forward to working with the Government to progress this critical work”.
The AISSA expresses its appreciation to the Minister for Education, the Hon Dan Tehan, and his predecessor, the Hon Simon Birmingham, for their willingness to work with the Independent school sector and their commitment to sector blind funding.
Keeping Children Safe from Bullying Conference 5 November 2018
Attend the Department for Education’s free conference to hear from leading international and Australian researchers, who will be exploring community approaches to address bullying on Monday 5 November at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Attendees can nominate to be a part of a consultation workshop to be held on the following day.
The conference is open to educators and people working with children and young people from government, non-government, not for profit and community organisations and will cover topics such as:
- the global context of bullying
- supporting children at increased risk of bullying
- bullying and mental health
- social media and cyberbullying
- legal responses to bullying
- school and community responses to bullying.
Read more about the conference or register now to attend.
AISSA Bulletin: Special Edition – State Budget
Read the latest AISSA Bulletin:
Media Release: New Minister for Education and Training
Independent schools congratulate Dan Tehan on his appointment as Minister for Education and Training and look forward to working with him.
Please read the full statement here:
New Minister for Education and Training
Carolyn Grantskalns – 08 8170 1400
Media Release: Independent school representatives meet Prime Minister on school funding concerns
Representatives of Independent Schools Victoria, the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, and the Association of Independent Schools of SA, along with representatives of the Independent Schools Council of Australia, today met the Prime Minister and the Minister for Education. We welcome the Prime Minister’s willingness to meet us, and we are keen to work with him and Senator Birmingham to seek an enduring resolution of the funding issue. It was a productive meeting, in which we told the Prime Minister of our concerns about the implications of the recommendations of the National School Resourcing Board, which are causing uncertainty and disruption for many schools.
Read the full statement here:
Independent school representatives meet Prime Minister on school funding concerns
Carolyn Grantskalns – 08 8179 1400
AISSA Media Statement: Release of the NSRB Review of Socio-economic Score (SES) Methodology Final Report
Any funding changes must be rigorously tested
The Association of Independent Schools of SA considers that any significant changes to the funding of non-government schools must be subjected to significant trials to ensure that the changes work for each and every school.
Read the full statement here:
AISSA response to SES funding review 6 July 2018
Carolyn Grantskalns – 08 8179 1400