Dr LIM - 2004-08-26
During estimates in June, you were less than enthusiastic about the success of the amalgamation of Centralian College and NTU to form the Charles Darwin University, indicating that you had some concerns. Will the minister reassure staff and students that Years 11 and 12 will remain at Centralian College, and that staff will continue to be employed at the college under the same conditions as they now have under the Department of Education?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. I am glad if I gave the impression at estimates that I had some concerns about the arrangements between Centralian College and Charles Darwin University, and the earlier decision to merge and amalgamate, because that is exactly the sentiment I wanted to get across. Therefore, either the member for Greatorex is quite perceptive or I am very good at putting across body language. No matter; the correct signals were read in this regard.
I can give the member for Greatorex an unequivocal assurance on both counts. In light of quite a wide-ranging number of concerns from the Centralian College educational community of Alice Springs, I have asked DEET to prepare a report to Cabinet, which is very close I understand, on a range of continuing issues arising from the proposed merger of the senior secondary education college, the old Centralian College, with Charles Darwin University at the Alice Springs campus.
Members will recall that I advised the House in 2003, when the new Charles Darwin University Bill was passed, that a number of transitional arrangements for Charles Darwin University remained to be put in place. They included the arrangements for the provision of education for Years 11 and 12 on this campus, along with arrangements for the staff of Centralian College.
Charles Darwin University and DEET were to formulate a memorandum of understanding between them in relation to the delivery of Years 11 and 12. The process for that agreement was to include discussions with all stakeholders regarding further transitional arrangements, covering Centralian College staff who have - even now, until January 2005 - to make a decision as to whether they want to stay with DEET or move to CDU.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It was obvious that there were going to be a number of significant administrative and governance arrangements to be addressed in relation to the merger and the MOU between the university and the department. Those arrangements have been under discussion, and both sides - DEET and Charles Darwin University - have identified a number of issues. I guess you could say some were apparent at the time the merge was instigated, but others have arisen as a result of that process.
The community, teachers, education union, parents and others have raised legitimate concerns in relation to the merger arrangements and the future of secondary education delivery on that campus. Some of those concerns are regarding the school council and governance. Staff career opportunities was a very legitimate concern, because we were boxing in a small number of staff into what did not represent any realistic career path - they were locked out of DEET and trapped in this small system. There were issues regarding communication, administration, the structure, and reporting. A number of these have proved fairly intransigent to try and work through.
The end result is that I have asked for a report that includes wrapping up of all these concerns and issues that have arisen, and options and recommendations from the department as to the best way to resolve them for the longer term. I am expecting that report from DEET very shortly. I want the community to have certainty around the arrangements.
I accept the points raised by the member for Greatorex. This is not something I have just heard about; it has been a concern to me for some time. However, we want to see the MOU in place as soon as possible, and ensure that, with the arrangements that are put in place, the bottom line is the best educational interests of our students. At the outset, the merger did increase opportunities and access for Central Australians to education and training. It gave Charles Darwin University a proper and rightful profile in Alice Springs that it did not have before.
Notwithstanding those points, let us see what DEET’s report says about options and recommendations. Cabinet will be making decisions on those in the very near future, when we will placing absolute certainty in the future regarding that.
To return to the two points raised about the future of Years 11 and 12 - assured, yes; pay and conditions for teachers - assured, yes.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. I am glad if I gave the impression at estimates that I had some concerns about the arrangements between Centralian College and Charles Darwin University, and the earlier decision to merge and amalgamate, because that is exactly the sentiment I wanted to get across. Therefore, either the member for Greatorex is quite perceptive or I am very good at putting across body language. No matter; the correct signals were read in this regard.
I can give the member for Greatorex an unequivocal assurance on both counts. In light of quite a wide-ranging number of concerns from the Centralian College educational community of Alice Springs, I have asked DEET to prepare a report to Cabinet, which is very close I understand, on a range of continuing issues arising from the proposed merger of the senior secondary education college, the old Centralian College, with Charles Darwin University at the Alice Springs campus.
Members will recall that I advised the House in 2003, when the new Charles Darwin University Bill was passed, that a number of transitional arrangements for Charles Darwin University remained to be put in place. They included the arrangements for the provision of education for Years 11 and 12 on this campus, along with arrangements for the staff of Centralian College.
Charles Darwin University and DEET were to formulate a memorandum of understanding between them in relation to the delivery of Years 11 and 12. The process for that agreement was to include discussions with all stakeholders regarding further transitional arrangements, covering Centralian College staff who have - even now, until January 2005 - to make a decision as to whether they want to stay with DEET or move to CDU.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It was obvious that there were going to be a number of significant administrative and governance arrangements to be addressed in relation to the merger and the MOU between the university and the department. Those arrangements have been under discussion, and both sides - DEET and Charles Darwin University - have identified a number of issues. I guess you could say some were apparent at the time the merge was instigated, but others have arisen as a result of that process.
The community, teachers, education union, parents and others have raised legitimate concerns in relation to the merger arrangements and the future of secondary education delivery on that campus. Some of those concerns are regarding the school council and governance. Staff career opportunities was a very legitimate concern, because we were boxing in a small number of staff into what did not represent any realistic career path - they were locked out of DEET and trapped in this small system. There were issues regarding communication, administration, the structure, and reporting. A number of these have proved fairly intransigent to try and work through.
The end result is that I have asked for a report that includes wrapping up of all these concerns and issues that have arisen, and options and recommendations from the department as to the best way to resolve them for the longer term. I am expecting that report from DEET very shortly. I want the community to have certainty around the arrangements.
I accept the points raised by the member for Greatorex. This is not something I have just heard about; it has been a concern to me for some time. However, we want to see the MOU in place as soon as possible, and ensure that, with the arrangements that are put in place, the bottom line is the best educational interests of our students. At the outset, the merger did increase opportunities and access for Central Australians to education and training. It gave Charles Darwin University a proper and rightful profile in Alice Springs that it did not have before.
Notwithstanding those points, let us see what DEET’s report says about options and recommendations. Cabinet will be making decisions on those in the very near future, when we will placing absolute certainty in the future regarding that.
To return to the two points raised about the future of Years 11 and 12 - assured, yes; pay and conditions for teachers - assured, yes.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016