Member for Ku-ring-gai Alister Henskens SC MP today encouraged local communities to join celebrations for Education Week 2016, which runs from August 1-5.

Mr Henskens said that 2016 marks the 62nd Education Week in NSW. Public schools across the state will be sharing their success stories with parents and the wider school community.

“This year’s theme, ‘Shared stories, better learning, stronger communities’, acknowledges the important role public schools play in fostering relationships between students, staff and the community,” Mr Henskens said.

“I encourage everyone to take part in Education Week activities, to visit open classrooms and see first-hand the excellent work being done in our local public schools.”

In this year’s budget the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will invest a record $13.7 billion in education. This includes:

• $113 million in additional needs-based funding to support public school students, made possible by NSW being the first state to sign the Gonski agreement.
• $38 million for the Quality Teaching, Successful Students initiative, enabling more than 1,000 of our best teachers to mentor and coach other teachers to improve student results in primary schools.
• $50 million for the Supported Students, Successful Students program, expanding wellbeing services in schools.

Mr Henskens said the NSW Government’s continued record investment in education highlights its commitment to public schools.

“A key NSW Liberals & Nationals Government goal is to improve student results, to do that we’re delivering the best future-focused learning environments for our children to succeed,” Mr Henskens said.

“I urge parents to involve themselves as much as possible in their children’s education.

“This Education Week let’s get behind our public schools, and let’s discuss the fantastic role they play in developing our children’s love of learning.”