Role of Education

SECTION 1: ROLE OF EDUCATION

I. EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

A: THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION
PREMISE 1.I.A
Australia must place a higher priority on education than at present if desirable national and individual goals are to be achieved. It is the responsibility of state and federal governments to provide a system of free and secular government schools open to all in order to spread the benefits of education as widely as possible.

B: AIMS OF EDUCATION
PREMISE 1.I.B
The basic aim of education is to help each individual to progress toward the attainment of their full potential, both as a person and as a member of society.

C: PUBLIC EDUCATION: CAMPAIGNING AND PROMOTING
PREMISE 1.I.C
P&C Federation believes that a strong and viable government school system is vital for the nation’s future. Australian society and its distinctive values depend on the practical expression of tolerance, fairness, egalitarianism and achievement of equitable outcomes provided by public schools.

II. STAGES OF SCHOOLING

A: PRE-SCHOOL, INFANTS AND PRIMARY EDUCATION
PREMISE 1.II.A
Education is a continuum, beginning at birth, and the first eight years of a child’s life are the most important in determining the child’s development. The relationship between a young child, their primary caregiver and their family is vital in the child’s development. Children inadequately cared for in their pre-school years enter schooling at an educational and personal disadvantage. Genuine and active participation between parents, carers and authorities involved in child care and pre-school education is essential.

B: MIDDLE YEARS
PREMISE 1.II.B
(i) P&C Federation believes that the middle years of schooling approach facilitates the transition from primary to secondary. Years 5-8 are a discrete developmental stage and require a focused approach to learning and teaching.
(ii) Systemic support of the middle years of schooling should include an allocation of resources to enable the two traditional halves of the K-12 continuum to work collaboratively.

C: SECONDARY EDUCATION
PREMISE 1.II.C
P&C Federation believes that local, co-educational, comprehensive government high schools are the ideal model for providing high-quality secondary schooling catering for the needs of all students but recognises and supports all established forms of public education.

D: CONTINUING EDUCATION
PREMISE 1.II.D(a)
As education needs to continue throughout life and benefits both the individual and the community in economic and many other ways, the community, through governments, should make available sufficient resources to see that reasonable personal aspirations and community needs are fully served. To provide equality of opportunity for success in, as well as access to, education for all, it is essential that alternative educational pathways are available for those groups whose capability is not truly reflected in their School Certificate, Higher School Certificate or normal school results.
PREMISE 1.II.D(b)
Everyone has a right to education throughout life to maximise their human potential, including the right to return to school to continue their secondary education later in life. Everyone has the right to continuing and further education. Tertiary, vocational and technical education should be equally available to all educationally qualified persons.