Wednesday, 27 November 2024

VCE exams

Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:26): My question is to the Premier. The Minister for Education knew over a month ago that questions for dozens of VCE exams had been negligently released to the public. He failed to be honest with students, teachers and parents, choosing to cover up the debacle. He failed to ensure that each compromised exam was completely rewritten so that no student would be at a disadvantage. He completely failed Victorian students. With at least 56 VCE exams compromised, why has the government put the future of Victorian students at risk?

The SPEAKER: I call the Minister for Education.

Ben Carroll: I think it was to the Premier.

The SPEAKER: Oh, was it? Sorry. I call the Premier.

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:27): I can understand the misunderstanding, Speaker. I reject much of the presentation –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: Well, all then – all. I am happy to reject the way the shadow minister for private schools in Kew has represented this situation.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, under standing order 118 it is completely disorderly for the Premier to nastily impugn other members.

The SPEAKER: I remind the Premier about imputations against other members.

Jacinta ALLAN: As the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education has gone to publicly on a number of occasions, as have I, the government and the minister and I all acknowledge that students have been let down as a result of these errors from the VCAA. It is unacceptable, and that is why I strongly support the very strong action that the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education has taken. A root-and-branch review of the VCAA is already underway. There is also an independent monitor that is being appointed to oversee the 2025 examination process. Also the Deputy Premier has moved very quickly following the departure of the former CEO to appoint respected education industry leader Dr Marcia Devlin to lead the organisation, supported by an independent expert review panel that includes Professor John Firth. Anyone who has been around the education community for the last two or three decades knows what a strong and respected independent person John Firth is, and he is going to work with two other panel members to oversight the marking process for the 2024 process. As I have said, the root-and-branch review is already underway. The independent panel are doing their work. We thank them for their work. We also, I reiterate, understand that students have been let down, and that is why the education minister and Deputy Premier has also been engaging –

John Pesutto interjected.

Jacinta ALLAN: I am sorry, Speaker. His colleague asked the question.

The SPEAKER:Order! The running commentary is unnecessary.

Jacinta ALLAN: It is running. The Deputy Premier and education minister has been working very closely with schools, principals and school leaders to support them, to explain what has gone on and to work through what needs to be done. That root-and-branch review is underway. The independent panel is doing their work. We will continue to support students, whether they are in year 12 or prep, with the support they need to get a great schooling.

Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:31): Given the education minister has let Victorian students down, has a record of incompetence and is now risking the futures of VCE students and their families, causing immense distress, will the Premier sack her education minister?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:31): The answer is no. Let me tell the member for Kew why the answer is no. She framed her question around the minister’s record. Let me share this with the member for Kew and all members of the house: Victoria has the best school attendance rates in the country, the highest proportion of school leavers fully engaged in tertiary education –

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question is about the incompetence of this minister, who has jeopardised the future of tens of thousands of Victorian students due to his incompetence. It is not about school buildings; it is not about the curriculum. It is about this minister’s bumbling incompetence.

The SPEAKER: Order! I have reminded the Leader of the Opposition and others that points of order are not an opportunity to make a statement to the house.

Jacinta ALLAN: On the point of order, Speaker, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that the member for Kew’s question went to the record of the minister, and I was providing the member for Kew with details of what the minister –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: Goodness me, Speaker. I think you had better do a welfare check. He is not well. Goodness me. Settle down. I was being entirely relevant to the question that was asked by the member for Kew. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to listen to the answer rather than constantly interjecting, he might see that I was being entirely relevant to the question that was asked.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: I was getting to the next point: the country’s best NAPLAN results, the largest growth of school staff workforce in the country, the lowest student-to-teacher ratios of any state and overseeing a massive building program. And of course something I know the Minister for Education is particularly proud of is the introduction of phonics teaching into our schools. The Minister for Education is working hard every single day for every school student in this state, and that is why he is making a great impact on the education system.