A quality education and training system

The State Government wants all young Western Australians to have the opportunity to realise their potential no matter what their economic circumstances or where they live.

Our plan for education is about rewarding effort, encouraging excellence and building opportunities right here in Western Australia.

Since 2001 we have recruited 2,861 new teachers into our schools, reduced class sizes from 28 to 24 in early years of schooling and employed 226 specialists to help children with the basics of reading, writing and maths.

We have also employed an additional 1,734 education assistants in our schools. There are now 35,725 more apprentices and trainees in Western Australia - a 90.6 per cent increase.

In 2007-08, the Carpenter Government is spending a record $3.3billion on education and training - including building new schools and maintenance for our existing schools.

School retention rates are at the highest level they’ve been for a decade. 98.4 per cent of all 16 year olds are engaged in study, training or employment. Next year, we will raise the school leaving age to 17.

For these important years, the State Government is helping to take the pressure off families by providing $200 each year for every 16 and 17-year-old in school and $400 for those in training.

We are making it compulsory for students to wear school uniforms. We believe they instil pride in a school and discipline in a student.

Good students should also be good citizens. Under our Student Community Service initiative, Year 10 and 11 students are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours community service.

Perth Modern, Western Australia’s oldest public high school, will be established as a centre of academic excellence and we will provide $9million to upgrade science facilities at nine selected high schools.

Our Best and Brightest scholarships are providing an incentive for our best and brightest to stay in WA, advancing their interests and making this State even greater.