The Albanese Government’s decision to exclude independent and catholic schools from a teacher training scholarship program represents an unacceptable attack on non-government schools and parental choice.
Federal Member for Groom, Garth Hamilton said the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan has abandoned the non-government school sector and Toowoomba families.
“The Albanese government announced undergraduate student teachers and for postgraduate students to fix the teacher shortage.
“There are critical teacher shortages across every school sector, not just government schools and it is particularly hurting rural, regional and remote communities.
“Instead of playing ideological games, the government should demonstrate an interest in addressing the workforce pressures across the school system,” Mr Hamilton said.
The Coalition has called on the Albanese Government to reverse the discrimination against non-government schools.
“This decision to give scholarships to only teachers in government schools undermines the important role of independent schools in the education system,” Mr Hamilton said.
“This is either blatant ignorance or a direct attack on one third of Australian schools which are independent or catholic.
“The government should apologise to those Australian parents who choose to send their child to a non-government school,” Mr Hamilton said.
Ends.
