ESL provision in public schools

Bankstown Girls High School

On behalf of the Greens thanks for the invitation to speak today.

The Greens party strongly backs the call of the NSW Teachers Federation for a boost in ESL services in our public schools.

There is no excuse for inaction or indifference to the needs of students from non English speaking backgrounds.

I think we have a right to feel very angry that the state Labor government has turned its back on ESL services in this state. This is the same government that is happy to take kudos from an inclusive public education system, from our public schools that have done so much to foster multiculturalism.

And let's remember we are not talking about a lot of money. For a bit over $8.5m ESL services could be upgraded to meet the growing need.

But that money is not forthcoming. There has been a freeze on increasing ESL services since 1993. Both Coalition and Labor governments have turned their back on the needs of students from non-English speaking backgrounds.

This government has its priorities all wrong. It will not cut into the budget for the wealthiest private schools while saying it cannot boost funding for ESL services.

Professor Tony Vinson, the NSW Teachers' Federation and the government's own Department of Education have sounded the alarm bells on this issue.

The growing need for ESL services is very real. From 1983 to 2004, the ratio of ESL teachers to ESL students in primary schools increased from 1:55 to 1:110 and in secondary schools from 1:42 to 1:78.

A Department of Education briefing paper produced last year reveals that since 1983 40,000 students who require ESL services have missed out.

The Department have called for an increase. But for the past five years the Department has had its submissions to Treasury for an increase in the budget for additional ESL positions knocked back. This Labor government has had four Education Ministers - Mr Aquiline, Mr Watkins, Dr Refshauge and now Ms Tebbutt.

What's going on here - don't they try, are they powerless in cabinet. Whatever their story is it is not acceptable. The $8.5 m need for ESL services is needed now.

While services are inadequate students will miss out on the full benefits of a public education because they are not fluent in English.

And let's remember when your education is limited so are your job prospects, your personal development, your full potential.

The NSW govt is robbing students from non-English speaking backgrounds of their rights to a full education by failing to increase ESL funding.

The federal Coalition government also bares responsibility for this sorry state of affairs, but the NSW government cannot run for cover on this one by shifting blame to the federal level.

Carmel Tebbutt in the Minister for Education in NSW should be ensuring that the $8.5m needed for ESL services is found quick smart.

As a Greens MP I have taken this issue up with the Minister time and time again. We actually won the support of a majority of MPs in the NSW Upper House for a Greens motion calling on the government to employ an additional 100 ESL teachers by end of this year and to allocate the funds required to bring ESL services up to the level required by demand.

The government have failed to act on this motion. They are not doing their job, they are not ensuring all students can benefit from a public school education.

Today many overseas students are absorbing ESL services in NSW public schools. Now the government is making good money out of these students who each pays around $10,000 a year. 25 % goes to the school they attend and 75 % goes to the Department of Education.

Now these overseas students are entitled to ESL services but none of the money they are paying goes to fund these services.

This is a matter of great urgency. Every day that goes past without an injection of funding for additional ESL teachers is another day were students from non-English speaking backgrounds are loosing out.

Our education system is in English - students who are not fluent in English miss out. And that is why we need a boost in ESL funding.

The Greens will continue to work with teachers, parents and students until we win through - all students deserve to benefit from a public education.

The Greens party strongly backs the call of the NSW Teachers Federation for a boost in ESL services in our public schools.

There is no excuse for inaction or indifference to the needs of students from non English speaking backgrounds.

I think we have a right to feel very angry that the state Labor government has turned its back on ESL services in this state. This is the same government that is happy to take kudos from an inclusive public education system, from our public schools that have done so much to foster multiculturalism.

And let's remember we are not talking about a lot of money. For a bit over $8.5m ESL services could be upgraded to meet the growing need.

But that money is not forthcoming. There has been a freeze on increasing ESL services since 1993. Both Coalition and Labor governments have turned their back on the needs of students from non-English speaking backgrounds.

This government has its priorities all wrong. It will not cut into the budget for the wealthiest private schools while saying it cannot boost funding for ESL services.

Professor Tony Vinson, the NSW Teachers' Federation and the government's own Department of Education have sounded the alarm bells on this issue.

The growing need for ESL services is very real. From 1983 to 2004, the ratio of ESL teachers to ESL students in primary schools increased from 1:55 to 1:110 and in secondary schools from 1:42 to 1:78.

A Department of Education briefing paper produced last year reveals that since 1983 40,000 students who require ESL services have missed out.

The Department have called for an increase. But for the past five years the Department has had its submissions to Treasury for an increase in the budget for additional ESL positions knocked back. This Labor government has had four Education Ministers - Mr Aquiline, Mr Watkins, Dr Refshauge and now Ms Tebbutt.

What's going on here - don't they try, are they powerless in cabinet. Whatever their story is it is not acceptable. The $8.5 m need for ESL services is needed now.

While services are inadequate students will miss out on the full benefits of a public education because they are not fluent in English.

And let's remember when your education is limited so are your job prospects, your personal development, your full potential.

The NSW govt is robbing students from non-English speaking backgrounds of their rights to a full education by failing to increase ESL funding.

The federal Coalition government also bares responsibility for this sorry state of affairs, but the NSW government cannot run for cover on this one by shifting blame to the federal level.

Carmel Tebbutt in the Minister for Education in NSW should be ensuring that the $8.5m needed for ESL services is found quick smart.

As a Greens MP I have taken this issue up with the Minister time and time again. We actually won the support of a majority of MPs in the NSW Upper House for a Greens motion calling on the government to employ an additional 100 ESL teachers by end of this year and to allocate the funds required to bring ESL services up to the level required by demand.

The government have failed to act on this motion. They are not doing their job, they are not ensuring all students can benefit from a public school education.

Today many overseas students are absorbing ESL services in NSW public schools. Now the government is making good money out of these students who each pays around $10,000 a year. 25 % goes to the school they attend and 75 % goes to the Department of Education.

Now these overseas students are entitled to ESL services but none of the money they are paying goes to fund these services.

This is a matter of great urgency. Every day that goes past without an injection of funding for additional ESL teachers is another day were students from non-English speaking backgrounds are loosing out.

Our education system is in English - students who are not fluent in English miss out. And that is why we need a boost in ESL funding.

The Greens will continue to work with teachers, parents and students until we win through - all students deserve to benefit from a public education.