QLD: New school plan angers parents and citizens associations

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-1998
QLD: New school plan angers parents and citizens associations

BRISBANE, Dec 21 AAP - Queensland's parents and citizens associations have withdrawn their
support for the latest draft of the state government's school-based management plan.

In a letter to the state's director-general of education, the Queensland Council of Parents
and Citizens Associations (QCPCA) expressed "serious dissatisfaction" with the government's
plan, saying they were unaware the plan was even being redrafted until briefings were offered
last week.

"In the second last week before Christmas, after schools have closed for the holidays, we
are offered a briefing on an all but finalised redesign," the letter from QCPCA acting
president Lyn Phillips said.

"This is not acceptable consultation with the largest stakeholder group in state education.

"We offer no support for the version of this proposal."

Ms Phillips said the role of the 1,300 parents and citizens' associations within Queensland
schools was significantly undermined by the new proposal.

Opposition education spokesman Bob Quinn backed the QCPCA's stance, saying months of
painstaking research and consultation had been thrown out the window by the government's
redraft of the school-based management plan.

Mr Quinn said the proposed changes were inconsistent with the recommendations released by
the government two months ago, after a comprehensive consultation process involving more than
9,000 formal responses from key education stakeholders, district focus groups, sample school
communities and individual opinion surveys.

"It's a real dog's breakfast," he said.

A spokesperson from the Education Deparment or the Schools Minister was not immediately
available.

AAP bja/it

KEYWORD: PARENTS

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