AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH (ACER) REPORT SHOWS A CRISIS OF LEADERSHIP IN OUR SCHOOL
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP said today that if Labor’s so-called ‘education revolution’ is to be more than just an election slogan then it must implement serious reforms to school leadership in Australia.
Today’s review – The Leadership Challenge: Improving learning in schools - from the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) shows Australia faces a critical shortage of quality school principals in the future if action isn’t taken now, which will affect schools in my electorate.
“We already know that most school principals are nearing retirement age – yet there simply aren’t enough new teachers wanting to take up the challenge,” Mr Ruddock said.
“This report also highlights the drastic need for greater principal autonomy to give them power to run their own schools and hire and fire their own staff.
“Yet these are measures which have been consistently opposed by the state governments and education unions and it’s to the detriment of our schools and education quality.”
For years the state Labor governments had failed to invest in developing future school leaders, instead handing them greater expectations, more paperwork and more bureaucracy.
“Great principals make great schools. Better leadership leads to better teaching and vibrant school communities,” Philip Ruddock said.
“New computers in schools will be of no use or benefit without great school leaders, great school communities and outstanding teachers. For too long the state Labor governments have got away with ignoring the problem and have failed to invest in better pay structures and professional development like in other countries.”