A re-elected Palaszczuk Government will employ at least 3,700 new teachers over the next four years to keep downward pressure on class sizes and ensure all Queensland children have access to a world class education.

In Cairns today to announce Labor’s World Class Education policy, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her government would also reintroduce the Ready Reading program to primary schools.

The Premier said a re-elected Palaszczuk Government would continue to lift education outcomes for all students.

“We are determined to provide Queensland students with the skills and knowledge they need to meet the challenges of the future,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“At the heart of our policy is a commitment to ensure we employ more teachers to meet enrolment growth around the state.”

Ms Palaszczuk said Labor’s World Class Education policy would:

Deliver the rollout of the Digital Technologies Curriculum – including coding and robotics – to all schools;
Inspire more students to study STEM through virtual STEM academies and STEM Girl Power camp;
Actively re-engage disengaged or at-risk youth in school or alternative education
Engage more students with disability in learning;
Provide four innovative centres for professional learning and wellbeing for teachers and students in rural and remote Queensland and improve internet connectivity to teacher housing;
Employ up to 45 additional music teachers in Queensland and purchase 1,000 new instruments;
Continue to provide free 12-month Playgroup Queensland membership for children under one; and
Complete the rollout of new senior assessment and tertiary entrance system.

Education Minister Kate Jones said a re-elected Palaszczuk Government would provide a world class education for all students.

“Strong literacy and numeracy programs are the building blocks of a strong state education,” Ms Jones said.

“We will also strengthen the focus on the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and maths and coding and robotics.

Ms Jones said Tim Nicholls cut a vital literacy program and threatened to cut instrumental music programs last time he was in power.

“The LNP slashed more than 500 teaching positions putting great pressure on class sizes,” she said.

“This meant there were fewer teachers to support students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

“Tim Nicholls also sacked more than 700 education support staff including hundreds of IT and infrastructure roles within the Department of Education.

“Only a Labor government will invest in education – the LNP’s record of cutting teachers and closing schools speaks for itself.”