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Parents Abandon Government SchoolingFigures revealing a drift from government to non-government schooling must be a wake-up call to the Bracks Government, now in its 8th year of office, Shadow Minister for Education Philip Davis said today. By Philip Davis - 2nd March 2007 - Back to News The Australian Bureau of Statistics Annual Schools Australia report shows many more parents are abandoning government education for their children.
Student numbers in Victorian government schools declined by 518 compared to non-government schools which recorded an increase of 4406 between 2005 and 2006.
"More Victorian parents than ever before are choosing to pay for their children’s education, rather than rely on the Bracks Government to provide an acceptable standard of education," Mr Davis said.
"This is a worrying trend and the Bracks Government must accept that these figures reflect parent concerns about standards of education.
"While the Labor’s panacea is the illusion of bricks and mortar, this does not deal with the quality of education in Victoria.
"Victoria is lagging behind other Australian states in literacy and numeracy, and as a result the quality of outcomes for our children are falling."
Mr Davis said parents wanted to ensure the best quality education and further opportunities for their children.
"If parents believe that non-government education will provide better opportunities for their children than the State Government system, Bracks Labor Government must take notice," he said.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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