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SACE recommendations accepted

Posted on July 26, 2008, 2:02pm

The State Government has given broad support to all seven recommendations of a Social Development Committee inquiry into the new South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith told State Parliament that each of the recommendations reflected the Government’s overall directions in working with Government, Catholic and Independent schools to introduce the new SACE.

A review of the SACE was established in 2004 and its findings were released in 2006, along with a $54.5 million injection of funds. The first students will graduate with the new certificate in 2011.

“The inquiry report adds to the exhaustive consultation and community contributions made to the development of a new SACE and the legislation that will underpin the reforms,” she said.

“That consultation included more than 200 meetings involving more than 1600 individual, some 170 written submissions, 600 responses to an online survey and a major conference.

“We are pleased that the recommendations of the report by Parliament’s bi-partisan Social Development Committee are in keeping with the directions we are already taking.

“Our directions include strong investment in the professional development of teachers and a collaborative approach across our school, further education and university sectors to help lift the skills and abilities of young people.

“A new expert board has been appointed to oversee the introduction of the new certificate and will meet for the first time next week.

“Reform of the SACE is well underway and we are continuing our work with the education community to shape a rigorous and relevant certificate for the future.

“For example, South Australia’s high schools are sharing $4.8 million in grants this year to begin preparing for the implementation of the new certificate from 2009.

“The grants are helping to train 7500 teachers across about 250 Government, Catholic and Independent schools, and to pilot key features of the new SACE.

“There will be further support for schools in the future, including workshops, seminars and extra funding, as the new SACE is progressively introduced.”

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