LYNDHURST POLL: KNOW YOUR CANDIDATE
LYNDHURST BYELECTION: HOPES FADE FOR NEW KEYSBOROUGH SCHOOL
The Journal asked Lyndhurst candidates about education ahead of April 27’s state byelection.
MARTIN LEAHY, Sex Party
I will seek to replace the Christian volunteer-run Special Religious Instruction program in public schools with curriculum-based units on Comparative Religion and Ethics.
Religious instruction has no place in our government schools.
I will call for the complete cessation of chaplains in government schools and mandate that counsellors possessing psychology qualifications be available to all students.
I will seek to make sure that our schools have the funding needed to maintain their newer and older buildings, so that our children can learn in the best environments.
HUNG VO, Independent
I have seen the Brack’s (Labor) government close down quite a few schools in the electorate of Lyndhurst, forcing local students to travel further out of their area to find a school. In this way, they lost their friends, lost their good teachers and most importantly, they lost their favourite school. To compensate, class sizes were increased at selected schools. This has obviously reduced the quality of teaching and supervision, which impacts academic potential.
I like to see that all of the schools need to be modernised and correct class sizes must be implemented.
NINA SPRINGLE, Greens
Issue: Lack of secondary school options in Lyndhurst and primary school options in Keysborough South
Plan: Our approach would be to put pressure on the state government to provide more support and resources for Lyndhurst Secondary College and to engage with parents to turn ‘negative experiences’ into positive ones. It is an existing government school and should be supported and resourced so it can be a quality secondary school that has the confidence of the community. Further, we would focus on improving education results at Lyndhurst Secondary College and Hampton Park Secondary College. Residents deserve quality education outcomes.
In addition the Greens would advocate for a new primary school to be built in Keysborough South
MARTIN PAKULA, Labor
With some of the most disadvantaged families in Melbourne, schools in the seat of Lyndhurst have been neglected by this Government. Many schools have been forgotten in the Government’s infrastructure program or have had their works left incomplete and abandoned. The Government has very little concern about improving the learning experience for children in this electorate.
The coalition cut $12 million in funding each year from the VCAL program for VCAL coordination in the 2011 budget ($48 million over four years).
This represents a significant setback for VCAL. It impacts heavily on students but also on teachers who will be expected to continue to deliver support and services despite having inadequate time and resources to do so.
Having the VCAL qualification available in a non-school setting provides an alternative pathway for students who are outside the school system or who may have become disengaged from the education system.
Combined with the governments $1.2 billion over 4 years cuts to TAFE funding and associated VET in schools programs, it is leaving hard working schools in Lyndhurst fighting to deliver an education that suits the needs of the local area and denying students the skills they need to get a job.
As part of Victorian Labor’s Plan for Jobs and Growth, State Labor has committed to reinstating funding for TAFEs to fulfil their community service obligations, and have made additional funding for TAFE our first priority after preserving a $100m budget surplus.
GERALDINE GONSALVEZ, Democratic Labor Party
As an educator myself I will work hard to ensure:
■ That schools’ in Lyndhurst do not experience access and equity issues.
■ That they are properly resourced to deliver a modern, varied & properly integrated curriculum.
■ I will support bi lingual learning and schooling options.
■ I will ensure schools cater for varying disabilities and I will assist and encourage parents to be better informed and engaged within the curriculum and school community in a shared, voluntary and skilled basis that optimises the collective skills present within the local community.
■ I’d like to see higher education and local traineeships and apprenticeships become a local reality.
■ Finally there is much work to be done within the early childhood and preschool areas. In particular that they be recognised and administered within the Department of schools and education whilst keeping their freedom & Independence.
■ I am against large class sizes.
STEPHEN NOWLAND, Family First
The biggest issues relating to schools in the area is that there is no primary school in the new suburbs such as Keysborough South.
* Candidates Bobby Singh and David Linaker (independents) did not respond.
