Rush For School Autonomy
The Age
Wednesday April 28, 1993
The State Government has chosen 322 schools to be in its Schools of the Future pilot program, which will result in a devolution of a wide range of powers to schools, including selection of staff, handling budgets and setting curriculums.
The Minister for Education, Mr Hayward, said that another 278 schools had been selected as associate schools and would take part in the professional development and information sessions, due to start in July, before joining the pilot schools next year.
Despite strong opposition to the program from teacher unions, school councils and parent groups, and serious reservations about its timing from principals' groups, the State Government received 740 applications to join the pilot program, which was originally planned to cover between 100 and 200 schools.
Mr Hayward said yesterday that he saw the number of applications as a vote of confidence in Government education.
The depth of that endorsement will be displayed next week as both principals and teachers gather to discuss the Government's agenda for further cuts in spending on education. Principals meeting on Sunday may include a vote on whether to proceed with the Schools of the Future in view of the cuts.
It is believed that many schools applied for the pilot scheme in the hope that it would shield them from cuts or from being closed, and possibly even give them more money and staff.
Under the Schools of the Future, all staff will be selected by the school rather than being centrally allocated. At the start of next year, schools will be given a lump-sum budget with which school councils will determine their spending priorities.
In the pilot program, four types of funding formulas will be given a trial. Some schools will have control over only their daily operating costs and minor maintenance, which accounts for about 30 per cent of school spending. Others will be handed full control over all spending, including teacher salaries.
Of the 322 schools in the pilot program, 101 are secondary schools, 197 are primary schools, 13 are special schools and another 11 offer a diverse array of education services.
The Government hopes all schools will eventually opt for self- management.
© 1993 The Age