Liberals to cut front line ESL services

Minister for Education Dr Chris Bourke has today slammed the ACT Liberals for moving a motion aimed at moving resources from the front line and putting them back in the Directorate.

The motion follows Education and Training's decision that a staffing resource would be better utilised as a front line ESL teacher rather than in central office as of 2012.

Minister Bourke said that if the ACT Liberals motion is successful it will be at the cost of high need students.

"What Mr Doszpot is talking about here is removing a frontline ESL teacher from assisting those students who need help to improve their English language skills the most.

"The Directorate's decision to make the resource a front line service is based on a new model of service delivery - Expertise should be located in schools and networks rather than in central office."

Dr Bourke said the ACT Government had increased the funding provided to ESL programs to around
$8 million.

This is in addition to programs supporting students and their teachers including successful specific tailored professional learning programs for teachers.

This Government is committed to delivering the best English language skills to students.

The Liberals have an atrocious record - they have voted against funding for ESL programs in successive budgets" Dr Bourke concluded.