Commonwealth Numbered Acts

EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACT 1988 No. 80 of 1988 - SECT 24

24. (1) The functions of the Schools Council are:

   (a)  to inquire into, and to provide information and advice to the Board
        with respect to, any matter referred to the Council by the Minister or
        the Board, being:

        (i)    a matter relating to schools or to primary or secondary
               education and, in particular, but without limiting the
               generality of the foregoing, a matter relating to:

                (A)  the general development of primary and secondary
                     education in schools;

                (B)  the marketing overseas of primary or secondary education
                     programs developed in Australia;

                (C)  the establishment of the priorities to be given in
                     dealing with the needs of primary and secondary schools
                     in respect of buildings, equipment, staff and other
                     facilities;

                (D)  the funding, planning and implementation of programs
                     aimed at meeting such priorities referred to in
                     sub-subparagraph (C) as have been, or may be,
                     established; or

                (E)  the granting of financial assistance by the Commonwealth
                     in respect of school systems and schools;

        (ii)   a matter relating to the education of handicapped children who
               have not attained school age; or

        (iii)  any other matter on which information or advice may reasonably
               be required by the Minister or the Board in conjunction with
               information or advice in respect of a matter referred to in
               subparagraph (i) or (ii);

   (b)  on its own motion, but subject to subsection (3), to inquire into, and
        provide information and advice to the Board with respect to, any
        matter referred to in subparagraph (a) (i), (ii) or (iii).

(2) In the exercise of its functions, the Schools Council shall have regard to
such matters as are relevant, including the need for improving primary and
secondary educational facilities in Australia and of providing increased and
equal opportunities for education in government and non-government schools in
Australia and the need for ensuring that the facilities provided in all
schools in Australia, whether government or non-government, are of the highest
standard, and, in particular, shall have regard to:

   (a)  the primary obligation, in relation to education, for governments to
        provide and maintain government school systems that are of the highest
        standard and are open, without fees or religious tests, to all
        children;

   (b)  the prior right of parents to choose whether their children are
        educated at a government school or at a non-government school;

   (c)  the educational needs of handicapped children and handicapped young
        persons;

   (d)  the needs of disadvantaged schools and of students at disadvantaged
        schools, and of other students suffering disadvantages in relation to
        education for social, economic, ethnic, geographic, cultural, lingual
        or similar reasons;

   (e)  the need to encourage diversity and innovation in education in schools
        and in the curricula of schools;

   (f)  the need to stimulate and encourage public and private interest in,
        and support for, improvements in primary and secondary education and
        in schools and school systems;

   (g)  the desirability of providing special educational opportunities for
        students who have demonstrated their ability in a particular field of
        studies, including scientific, literary, artistic or musical studies;
        and

   (h)  the need, in relation to primary and secondary education and in
        schools and school systems, to promote the economic use of resources.

(3) The Council may perform a function under paragraph (1) (b) only if the
performance of that function does not prejudice the performance of its
functions under paragraph (1) (a).