Gonski 2.0 unveiled to shake up education

The Area News spoke with former Nationals Education Minister Adrian Piccoli, who addressed the new review, Gonski 2.0 and conveyed his full support of the initiative.

“I never think it’s a problem to constantly evaluate what’s going on in education,” Mr Piccoli said.

Mr Piccoli adds that he was a very strong supporter of the Gillard Government’s Gonski 1.0. However, he does also support the reforms as published in Gonski 2.0.

“It [Gonski 1.0] didn’t really pick issues about how schools should use funding effectively, whereas this report [Gonski 2.0] does.”

Mr Piccoli commented that as there was more money available when Gonski 1.0 was brought in, “proportionately more funds went to country schools.

“Then the question is, ‘What’s the best way to spend it?’ And that’s where Gonski 2.0 comes in,” he said.

“Every school system grapples with how do you improve education. You have to keep up with the changes in society.

Funding concerns is always at the fore of regional educators, and there are a number of issues attached that need to be addressed.

“Staffing. Getting trained, qualified, experienced staff in country schools – that’s a problem in Griffith,” Mr Piccoli said.

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And yet, there are those who are in two minds about such a reform, such as Teachers’ Union Representative Richard Wiseman.

“I think Gonski 2.0 misses the point of the first Gonski review,” Mr Wiseman said.

“If schools are adequately resourced we can do all these recommendations in the report.”

“We’re doing them anyway, but we need the resources to successfully do it – teachers in NSW would argue they are doing them anyway.”

Both Mr Piccoli and Mr Wiseman agreed that Gonski 1.0 was a successful venture, but the point remains that there is always a need for improvement in education.

This is something that Gonski 2.0 could very well provide.

“A lot of it comes down to time and resources,” Mr Wiseman said.

“Schools in Griffith for example, we still struggle to get casual teachers.”