As students across Queensland return to school this week, I would like to take this opportunity to wish our students, parents, teachers and staff all the very best for 2024.
I would particularly like to wish our newest ‘Preppies’ and their families a wonderful start as they commence their school journey.
Whilst this is an exciting time for many, there is no doubt that our students and teachers are returning to an education system in Queensland that continues to deteriorate under the chaos and crisis of the State Labor Government.
At a time of crippling teacher workforce shortages, under Labor we are seeing more teachers and staff than ever before reporting that student behaviour is not being managed well at their school.
Since 2014, Queensland has gone from 1 in 10 teachers stating that student behaviour is not being well managed, to now 1 in 4.
This rapid decline, combined with the growing number of teachers who do not feel that their school is a safe place to work, has occurred all under the watch of the Labor State Government, and it is simply unacceptable.
There has also been significant increases in student disengagement. New figures recently released by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) show that from 2022 to 2023, Queensland has dropped from second in the nation, to now fourth, behind Victoria, New South Wales, and the ACT, for student attendance in years 1-10, with Queensland also below the National Average.
The Labor State Government must prioritise growing Queensland’s state school attendance rates, and deliver a comprehensive strategy to keep students in school.
The Labor State Government must also outline how it intends to lift educational outcomes.
Last year not a single educational outcome target was achieved across reading, writing and numeracy, through years 3, 5, 7, and 9, according to the Department of Education’s latest Annual Report.
Queenslanders deserve a Government that is focused on the right priorities, ensuring that our students receive the best education possible, with our teachers and staff respected and safe in their workplace.
ENDS
