Tuesday, 16 May 2023

 Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (14:26): From time to time I do take the opportunity to point out some of the problems in our education system. For example, the Andrews Labor government spends less than any other state or territory per pupil on education, and Victorian parents pay the most, over $100,000 from prep to year 12 for a state school education, which last time I checked was supposed to be free – well, we pay for it through our taxes. Of course our results have been going through the floor. In the latest Programme for International Student Assessment test, which happened before the pandemic, Victorian students received their worst learning outcomes ever, and I have an embargoed copy of new data coming out tomorrow that demonstrates that when it comes to literacy primary school students in Victoria are going backwards. We are the only state or territory where that is happening.

But today I wanted to focus entirely on the positive. I met with students once again from Donvale Christian College last week, and I am always impressed with students from this fabulous school. They came into Parliament. We spent some time in the Assembly chamber and a little bit of time watching debate in here, then went into the Liberal party room, which they enjoyed very much as they had heard a little bit about it in the news over the course of the preceding days. We talked about a range of matters. It was actually a very productive, positive and happy meeting. We talked about Australia’s constitution, our system of government. They were really fascinated by our Westminster model – they are legal studies students – and how it is that our system differs from others. There are deep problems in our education system; one of them most certainly is not our fabulous students.