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budget-090622

Budget prepares Queenslanders for state's future prosperity

June 2009

Budget written on slate

Despite the tougher global economy this year's State Budget has funded more teachers and support to improve students' literacy, numeracy and science outcomes.

Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson said the Budget, handed down on June 16, focused on giving children a flying start, laying strong educational foundations and developing skills for the changing economic environment.

'As our state's population continues to grow, we will continue to equip our children with the skills they need to be a part of Queensland's future prosperity,' Mr Wilson said.

Jobs

An additional 350 full-time equivalent teachers and teacher aides will be employed in 2009-10 to cater for enrolment growth in state schools and the department will invest more than $48 million in professional development for departmental staff, school and TAFE teachers.

Funding of $4.5 million has been allocated for an extra 5000 teacher aide hours a week in primary schools from Prep to Year 7 - the first phase of a $43.1 million investment over three years for 15,000 additional hours of teacher aide time.

Literacy, numeracy and science

Mr Wilson said the Government would invest $72.3 million over three years in a new Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan which targets students not meeting national standards.

'Extra teachers will deliver 10 to 20 hours of intensive teaching to target students in Years 3 and 5, up to 80 literacy and numeracy coaches will be employed and summer schools will be set up for 9000 Years 5 to 7 students and for teachers' professional development,' he said.

Mr Wilson said $43.5 million would be spent over three years in a new Science Spark program to help reignite student interest in science in Years 4 to 7.

'We will employ 100 new science teachers, roll out science-based professional development and expand the number of Earth Smart Science Schools from 60 to 1000.'

Early childhood

Mr Wilson said the Government would also invest more than $300 million to establish 240 new or extra kindergarten services by 2014.

'$15.4 million has been committed for kindergarten infrastructure on state school sites including constructing six additional services to open in 2010 and nine in 2011.'

Support for disadvantaged

Department of Education and Training (DET) Acting Director-General Julie Grantham said the global economic downturn meant the budget position across government was tight.

'We've consciously directed our funding towards our priority areas - improving literacy, numeracy and science outcomes; building kindergartens and early years centres; and increasing training places and qualifications to ensure we develop an increasingly skilled workforce.

'Our key priority is improving educational outcomes for all students and we've introduced programs aimed at the state's most disadvantaged children and improving Queenslanders' ability to secure jobs.'

  • $8.7 million over three years for the Every Child Counts pilot to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged students in the Logan area;
  • $3 million over three years for the Edmund Rice Bridge Program to support 12 to 15 year olds returning to school from the juvenile justice system; and
  • $7.5 million in 2009-10 for an extra $10,000 in grants for each school from next year, with an additional $3000 for schools in disadvantaged areas.

Training

Ms Grantham said an additional 148,000 training places would be created over the next four years with a State Government contribution of $124.3 million as part of the Productivity Places Program National Partnership.

'This investment will leverage additional contributions from the Federal Government and industry to offer a combined $414.5 million investment over four years,' she said.

A further $203 million in 2009-10 has been allocated to develop the skills of apprentices and trainees.

School infrastructure

Nearly $1.6 billion will be invested in school infrastructure.

'This includes $882 million for the delivery of projects under the Federal Government's Building the Education Revolution, consisting of the National School Pride and the Secondary and Primary Schools for the 21st Century initiatives,' Ms Grantham said.

'The State Budget commitments combined with Commonwealth funds for BER enable us to update and improve facilities in all schools while generating jobs across the state.'

For more information, visit the DET website.