Victorian state budget 2018-19: New test for aspiring school principals
Every aspiring principal will soon have to pass a new test if they want to run the state’s schools.
Education is a centrepiece of this year’s state budget, with $4.4 million allocated towards a free course that will prepare and assess teachers striving for the top job.
After completing the course at the state-funded Bastow Centre, teachers must pass the new Victorian Aspiring Principal Assessment which will test their "suitability and readiness for the role".
Budget papers state that this initiative will "ensure Victorian schools have access to the very best principals".
Education Minister James Merlino said a record $1.25 billion would be spent on new state schools and upgrades, including 12 new schools to help accommodate a student boom. There will be a staggering one million students in Victorian schools by 2020.
"We know our state is growing faster than any other and we need to invest now to meet the demands of the future," Mr Merlino said.
But the independent and Catholic school sector will be disappointed.
There is no extra capital funding for non-government schools allocated in this year’s budget. In contrast, over the past three years the government has invested $120 million in capital works for non-government schools.
This could put the sector at loggerheads with Labor ahead of the state election.
On Monday, Catholic Education Commission of Victoria director Stephen Elder called on the state government to provide more funding.
"Catholic school communities already raise 80 per cent of every dollar they spend on capital works, the essential bricks and mortar parts of school facilities," he said.
"That means a little more from the state government would go a long way as we all deal with growth rates unseen since gold rush days and the challenges of Melbourne, once again, becoming Australia’s largest city."
In a bid to attract more students to TAFE and to meet industry demand for skilled workers, the government will spend $172 million making 30 priority courses free.
More than 28,000 students enrolled in these courses last year and they include mental health, disability, education support and even salon assistants.
TAFEs will also extend their hours from 6 am to 10pm and operate on Saturdays to increase their competiveness with private training colleges.
The announcement came as the state government struck a new pay deal with TAFE teachers, who had previously threatened industrial action. They will receive a 2.5 per cent pay rise and an additional 2.9 per cent linked to service delivery improvements.
"This is the biggest overhaul of TAFE, skills and training in Victoria’s history," Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney said.
"It will make sure all Victorians can get the training they need for a good job, building our state."
It has been a difficult era for TAFEs, which Labor promised to save ahead of the 2014 state election.
Private training college scandals have tarnished the sector’s reputation and a decline in apprenticeships and the uncapping of university places has also driven students away.
Students will also be given the option of staying at school for an extra year as part of a new $49.8 million apprenticeship and traineeship programs. It’s hoped these students finish Year 13 with an apprenticeship or traineeship and move into a high demand industry.
There’s also funding to improve careers education in schools.
Every year 9 student will be able to access expert career advice and a new careers e-portfolio where they can add their work.