More NT Primary School Teachers Promised

The Country Liberals have announced they will employ an additional 88 specialist Primary School teachers as part of an Education policy designed to give our kids a better start.

The Country Liberals will recruit specialist physical education teachers, librarians and language teachers to improve the overall quality of education provided in Territory primary schools.

“We want to fight the battle of the bulge, encourage a love of reading and open the world of languages to our youngest students,” says Terry Mills, Leader of the Country Liberals.

“Specialist physical education teachers will be the frontline of the Country Liberals’ campaign against childhood obesity. By Year 6 it’s estimated 31.6% of boys are overweight or obese and 23.4% of girls are in the same categories.

“Some of our primary schools are currently making do without the services of a librarian. Librarians are critical to raising the literacy standards of schools and the Country Liberals will plug this hole.

“The benefits of being introduced to a second language at an early age are well documented. Given our proximity to Indonesia and the rise of China as a world power it’s wise to prepare our children to communicate with these important neighbours.

“The Territory Government’s emphasis on the introduction of middle schooling has seen primary schools fall off the Education Department’s radar.

“The hard working teachers in our primary schools have had additional responsibilities placed upon them in the recent past, and it’s now affecting their ability to deliver the quality of education we need.

“The recruitment of specialist teachers from the three disciplines will allow existing teachers more time for planning, preparation, assessment and teaching.

“The policy builds in flexibility at the school level by allowing individual schools to choose which type of specialist best suits the needs of the school.”

Primary schools or CECs with regular attendance over 100 will gain one specialist, those over 250 will gain two.

The Country Liberals have budgeted $9.8m a year recurrent to fund this program.

2008-07-16