Firth's school league tables legislation in trouble

Dr Kaye was commenting on the leaking of a NSW Cabinet Minute agreeing to legislation to remove the NSW regulation that prevents the publication of test results that could rank or compare particular schools, ('Firth moves on school league tables', Sydney Morning Herald, page 3).

Dr Kaye said: "The publication of this data is opposed by principals and teachers across every education sector. It is opposed by both public and private education unions.

"NSW Education Minister Verity Firth will find herself isolated without support for league tables.

"We will do everything we can to stop her legislation getting through the NSW upper house. We owe it to the schools that do a remarkable job educating children from disadvantaged communities. A name-and-shame website would humiliate schools that are struggling.

"Minister Firth will have a hard time arguing her case. All schools in this state are already accountable to their communities through annual school reports.

"Publishing the raw numerical statistics for all schools on one website will inevitably lead to simplistic league tables.

"The Rees government has been bullied into this by the Federal Education Minister. Julia Gillard is threatening to withhold funds from public education if the state does not hand over the results.

"It is time to call the Rudd government's bluff.

"This is about protecting children in schools that serve the diverse communities of NSW.

"The Greens will be calling on our colleagues in the state's upper house to listen to teachers, parents and principals from all education sectors and to vote with us to reject this change," Dr Kaye said.