Union Report Says Government 'lies' About School Performance
The Age
Wednesday June 13, 2007
THE Howard Government has lied about school results, unfairly attacked the quality of teaching and disparaged curriculums to impose federal control over education, a report says.
The report, to be released by the Australian Education Union today, comes after Victorian Premier Steve Bracks dismissed Canberra's latest move to commission experts to develop a performance pay model for teachers as "naked" politicking.In the report, economist Trevor Cobbold says the Howard Government has transformed education into a market-based privatised system, aided by "the perpetration of three great frauds on the Australian public". These include the "myth" that there is a crisis in schools, that increased choice and competition in schools will improve student achievement, and the Government's funding for private schools will help low-income families.Mr Cobbold says international and national data refute Government assertions that more than 30 per cent of students are failing to meet adequate literacy standards.
© 2007 The Age