ABOUT THIS PRIORITY
From early childhood through to the tertiary stage, education remains the most impactful catalyst for positive change in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. Remarkable improvements in access to, and participation in, quality education have been achieved across Western Sydney over the past three decades; however, profound inequities persist in particular sub regions and among some communities.
Digital literacy and digital access are increasingly pivotal. The major economic and labour market dislocations of the pandemic-related recession heighten the urgency to address this priority.
“From early childhood through to the tertiary stage, education remains the most impactful catalyst for positive change in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.”
GOOD PERFORMANCE
- New schools at Catherine Park, Gledswood Hills, Jordan Springs, Narellan and Oran Park
- $120 million funding commitment for community and mobile preschools in 2021
- $337 million over the 2021 school year for intensive tutoring programs
- Expansion of the ‘School Breakfast 4 Health’ program
- Commitments on Departmental accountability under the ‘School Success Model’
- Revived TAFE under new management with $80 million for a new Construction Hub
- Release of the ‘Accelerating R&D’ action plan and NSW Tertiary Education Strategy
- Planning for the Multiversity and the ‘knowledge job’ Aerotropolis at the new airport
POOR PERFORMANCE
- Chronic schools overcrowding and capacity issues in the north west and outer south west
- Short-sighted schools infrastructure planning in high growth areas
- The growing ‘digital-divide’ for students from less wealthy areas
- An increasing funding gulf between the region’s richest and poorest schools
- Major uncertainty and delays in the rollout of the schools air-conditioning program
- Lack of clarity on proposed TAFE job cuts and the impact on Western Sydney
- No connection for the new TAFE Construction Hub on the St Marys – Badgerys Creek Metro
- Pulling ‘Boosting Business Innovation’ R&D support for Western Sydney entrepreneurs
- Slow to address international student needs during the pandemic
THE VERDICT
While acknowledging the major increase in school building and upgrade activity, the majority of Mid-Term Report Card respondents felt the NSW Government’s schools infrastructure program is not keeping pace with Western Sydney’s growth. Many also observed that not enough is being done to address widening inequality between the region’s schools. Nor was there sufficient recognition of, and support for, education as a pathway from disadvantage. The stark digital divide that emerged during lockdown emphasised the urgency of that task.
“The NSW Government’s schools infrastructure program is not keeping pace with Western Sydney’s growth.”
In contrast, the extension of the free preschool program, the expansion of the Foodbank-partnered school breakfasts initiative, along with commitments to greater departmental accountability in performance improvement, were positive and welcome developments. Equally, the co-design – with universities, TAFE and industry – of the New Education and Training Model for the Aerotropolis was seen as an encouraging step, by the Government, towards genuine collaboration. It is not clear, however, that the spirit of collaboration extends to encompass the development of a business case for an Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility, which in budget commentary cites only ‘business, industry and government’ as having a role.
Measures to ‘revive’ TAFE were welcomed, but respondents were undecided as to the Government’s long-term commitment to that task, especially in light of reports of potential large scale TAFE job cuts. Failures to link critical skills and jobs initiatives were also highlighted in Transport for NSW’s decision to exclude the new Construction Hub and Kingswood TAFE from the nearby St Marys to Western Sydney Airport Metro link. The Government’s decision to end 'Boosting Business Innovation' funding for Western Sydney businesses was viewed as an ‘incredibly short-sighted’ and disappointing move during a recession.
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