Caesar grilled over progress in public education transformation
The Minister of Education today sidestepped direct answers when questioned in the Upper House on “measurable achievements” in the transformation of the public school system.
Crystal Caesar was quizzed on the issue after speaking to the Ministry of Education’s decision to “recalibrate” certain aspects of the overhaul.
In a statement, Ms Caesar told the Senate that the move to freeze reforms aimed to ensure implementation “remains sustainable, coordinated and effective”.
Tawana Tannock, an independent senator, said: “When I read this transformation programme update, I don’t see any measurable achievements.
“I hear progress has been made but I don’t see any way that we’ve been given to measure that progress.”
She questioned whether the minister was able to respond to proposals put forward to the ministry by senior schools which identified priority areas requiring further development in the 2025-26 academic year.
She also asked if a new timeline was set for the completion of the transformation.
Ms Caesar said transformation was “an ongoing process” adding: “It is not an end goal nor is it a specific deadline.
“There’s quite a bit of review and consideration that has to be undertaken.”
Ms Caesar said impacting factors included school enrolment, the age of the buildings and plans for the structures.
She said a specific timeline is forthcoming but noted that making such an announcement at this time would “pre-empt” the work of her team.
She said a “more fulsome understanding” of the 24 school buildings was required along with projections on student enrolment.
“This is a huge undertaking and it is not something that can be done … in a rushed fashion,” Ms Caesar said.
“We need to do it and make sure it’s being done deliberately and thoughtfully.”
She promised to provide the Upper House with answers to the senior school proposals.
She said she was committed to ensuring that any school subject to closure would be given a full year to make preparations.
Ms Caesar said such a move would be “fair as it does give the school communities an opportunity to prepare for the closing”.
She took issue when Opposition senator David Rogers spoke of an “education emergency”.
She said: “To say that the entire system is in emergency is unfair, particularly to the hard work that many of our teachers, principals and school leaders do every day.”
Earlier, Ms Caesar told the Upper House that the emphasis of transformation is on strengthening the foundations of the system.
“This includes reducing reliance on acting appointments, supporting school leadership, strengthening teaching and learning, and ensuring that school improvement efforts result in measurable gains in student achievement,” she added.
The minister said work continues on advancing the development of signature learning programmes at The Berkeley Institute, CedarBridge Academy and Sandys Secondary School.
The programmes will play a central role in reshaping senior school education by creating pathways that better align with students' strengths, interests, aspirations and future career opportunities, Ms Caesar said.
Ms Caesar said work also continues at the Francis Patton, Purvis, Harrington Sound and Elliot parish schools.
She said: “These schools represent far more than the addition of Years 7 and 8.
“They are intended to strengthen learning communities, expand opportunities for students, and create more engaging, supportive and developmentally appropriate learning environments.”
The Senate heard that in the summer, a team of educators from Purvis will travel to the United Kingdom to an established dual-language school.
The move marks the second international professional learning opportunity provided to support its dual-language programme. Students of the school are being taught Spanish as a second language.
“Having recently visited the school and met with the educators participating in the study visit, I was encouraged by their enthusiasm and commitment to strengthening bilingual learning opportunities for students,” Ms Caesar said.
She added that the ministry continued to advance the development of a reimagined special school model for Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy.
She said the work is being led by a local educator with subject matter expertise and is focused on developing a modern, inclusive and evidence-based framework to support students with specialised learning needs.
•To read the minister’s full statement, see Related Media
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