anarchist media weekly

Joe Toscano comments on education in Australia and the Gonski Report. "It’s no accident Australian education outcomes continue to fall behind comparable countries, we need to import specialised skilled labour and many Australian families are burdened with the problems associated with intergenerational social security dependency. The growing private public education chasm has become the single most important barrier to social cohesion in the country."

Public Private Chasm

No society can afford to put the interests of some of its children before the interests of all its children. In Australia today we have succeeded in creating an education system that is both unwilling and incapable of developing the talents of all of its children. The private, public chasm that has developed as private schools siphon public funds into private education has had a significant impact on generations of Australian children and the country as a whole.

It’s no accident Australian education outcomes continue to fall behind comparable countries, we need to import specialised skilled labour and many Australian families are burdened with the problems associated with intergenerational social security dependency. The growing private public education chasm has become the single most important barrier to social cohesion in the country.

States that refuse to treat all their children equally and make special provisions for those with major physical, intellectual and psychological issues do not do themselves or their citizens justice.

Industry skilled immigration reliance creating social tensions

The continuing reliance on immigration to fill the growing gaps created by an education system that is not geared to develop the talents of all of this country’s children is unsustainable and creates long lasting social tensions within the community. The Gonski Reportoffers a glimmer of hope some Australians are beginning to realise we will continue to short change many of our children and will never reach our full potential as a nation unless we address this critical issue.

Source of article: #10;">Anarchist Weekly Review No.967