Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches

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EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL 1998

(This is an uncorrected proof of the daily report. It is made available on the condition it is recognised as such.)

Bill presented and read a first time.

Mr ADAMSON (Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.

The purpose of this bill is to amend the Education Act to: empower the secretary of the Department of Eduction to make determinations in regard to the operation of non-government schools. The Commonwealth's New School's Policy requires that non-government schools must be recognised in the relevant state or territory prior to receiving Commonwealth assistance. If a non-government school is registered by the department and operating according to the relevant requirements, that school will be eligible to receive funding from the Commonwealth government.

It is a requirement under Part VII of the Education Act that non-government schools obtain registration from the secretary of the department prior to the commencement of their operation. For a non-government school to obtain registration and to continue to be registered, the school must operate in accordance with certain requirements.

Under the Education Act, the secretary will consider granting registration or continuing the registration of a non- government school, if the school is or intends operating in accordance with the prescribed requirements. The secretary will have regard to prescribed requirements concerning the delivery of core curriculum to students, the minimum qualifications of teachers at the school, the standard of the school's educational facilities, the financial viability of the school and the school's long-term commitment to the education of its students.

Under the current wording of Part VII of the Education Act, the prescribed requirements may only be determined by regulations. The prescribed requirements for non-government schools are likely to require regular updating and modification. The mechanism of drafting regulations is not the most appropriate and efficient means of defining the prescribed requirements for the purposes of Part VII of the act.

The proposed amendments to the Education Act will empower the secretary to make determinations in respect of the requirements for the operation of non-government schools. The secretary will be able to make determinations that are immediately responsive to the modifications required.

I commend the bill to honourable members.

 

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