Over $97 million for Smarter Schools across Australia

Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, today announced $97.7 million for Australian schools under the fifth round of funding under the National Partnerships.

Schools are getting help to keep their students engaged and achieving, with the roll out of facilitation payments for the Smarter Schools National Partnerships for Improving Teacher Quality and Low Socio-economic Status School Communities.

“These payments will allow the schools to raise teacher quality and help students overcome educational disadvantage,” Mr Garrett said.

“The Gillard Government is committed to making every school a great school, and to ensuring that all students, regardless of their background or location, have access to a quality education. The funding we’re providing today will help achieve these goals.”

The Smarter Schools National Partnerships are supporting students in more than 2,500 schools, with Australian Government funding of up to $2.59 billion available over the life of the Partnerships.

“The Smarter Schools National Partnerships Annual Reports for 2010 released today show that our commitment to working with state and territory governments is on track to improving educational outcomes and overcoming disadvantage,” Mr Garrett said.

Under the Partnerships, schools across Australia are implementing creative strategies to better prepare students to get the skills they will need for success in work and life.

The schools are:

equipping teachers to better identify and address student learning needs;
introducing learning programs that engage students, helping to improve literacy and numeracy levels;
increasing attendance by working with families; and
encouraging more Australians to consider a teaching career.

The Smarter Schools National Partnerships for Improving Teacher Quality and Low Socio-economic Status School Communities will run until 2013 and 2015 respectively.

“We want to build an education system that gives our young people the skills they need to contribute to our national economy, while providing the life skills they need to be active citizens and contributors to their local communities,” Mr Garrett said.

The state and territory Smarter Schools Annual Reports for 2010 and information about the Smarter Schools National Partnerships, are available at www.smarterschools.gov.au.

reff:australia.gov.au