Your Magical Mystery Cure

March 9, 2010

As the State election nears, political parties continue to announce policies they believe will make a difference to the education system. But will they line up with what school communities really wish for? Lauren Novak and Candice Keller investigate.

THE state’s major political parties are seemingly heeding the calls from education stakeholders to increase funding for students with disabilities and special needs.

Both Labor and Liberal have announced policies regarding increased capital and resourcing for special schools an d units while minor parties have also called for this issue to be a focus in the next political term.

Meanwhile, lobby groups, including the education union, independent and Catholic schools and principals associations, have said the strain on schools to adequately manage students with special needs has increased dramatically.

The union says that since 1999, there has been a 75 per cent increase in students with disabilities as a percentage of South Australia’s student population. This has resulted in a 40 per cent rise in disabled children in mainstream classrooms.

SA Primary Principals Association president Steve Portlock said it was time for the State Government to step in and assist school communities.

"More options are required to cater for the ever increasing number of students with disabilities in mainstream classrooms," he said.

"Extra, special classes and more places in special schools are needed."

Labor has promised six new special education units to the tune of $17 million in response to the Liberal’s policy for a new school dedicated to students with autism.

Liberal leader Isobel Redmond said it was time for a government to address the cry for help from parents with children suffering from autism spectrum disorders.

"One in every 160 children aged between six and 12 years suffers with an ASD, making it the most common form of disability for children in Australia," Ms Redmond said.

Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said the Government had provided resources to schools with students with disabilities and acknowledged the sector still had concerns.

"We know there’s more work to do … we also already have a Special Education Taskfo rce that looks at issues relating to special education and advises on future directions," Dr Lomax-Smith said.

Minor party Dignity for Disability and independent MLC Robert Brokenshire have shown support for three autism spectrum disorder resource centres for Adelaide.

But the call for more funds for staff in information technology maintenance and development and more school counsellors appears to have fallen on deaf ears, with no policies focused on student services support as yet.

"Students come to school with different health, wellbeing and behavioural needs," union president Correna Haythorpe said.

"The provision of student counsellors for all primary schools is essential so that proactive intervention programs can be undertaken to assist these students in achieving positive outcomes at school."

Dr Lomax-Smith said Labor had made significant headway in the portfolio over the past eight years.

"We have developed children’s centres on primary school grounds, employed more teachers to reduce class sizes, introduced a new SACE, established 10 trade schools and supported more students to stay at school," Dr LomaxSmith said.

Labor has outlined its priorities for the next term as a continued focus on the core subjects of maths, English and science in primary schools and finishing work on six new "super schools" throughout Adelaide suburbs.

Wish list

..Increased funding for students with special needs/disabilities – increased resourcing to support mainstream classes and greater support for special schools, classes and units.

.. Smaller class sizes, particularly in middle and upper primary and junior secondary.

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.. A student-centred funding model allowing schools resources per each enrolled student instead of per group. This would affect staff numbers, class sizes and funding for other day-to-day resources.

.. More student counsellors, extra support services, counsellors, youth workers and child psychologists in all schools, not just those considered to have low socio-educational ratings.

.. Increased IT support, including an IT technician for every school or increased student support officer hours, allowing for schools to employ information and communication technology specialists.

.. School leadership support – greater incentives to attract and retain school leaders including principals and assistant principals ..Capital works funding for Catholic and independent schools – re-introduction of a state capital works program worth $8 million a year to enhance access to technologies and programs that support the government’s environmental objectives.

.. Computer access for all secondary students.

.. All schools to be funded for energy consumption and environmental initiatives supported, with funding to implement energy-saving programs and technologies.

.. Access to bus transport to the nearest local non-government school of choice for students in regional areas.

Combined wish list from the South Australian primary and secondary principals, education union, independent and Catholic schools.