Published: 25 March 2022
Last updated: 4 March 2024
The committee, chaired by David Gonski, said the aim of its report, released last week, was to ‘ensure sustainability and innovation in the education space in the future’
THE EDUCATION REVIEW Committee examining the future of Jewish education in NSW has generated six ‘Big Ideas’ to address soaring fees and enrolment pressures.
In its report released last week, the committee proposed:
Centralising Fee Assistance which will ensure consistency and equity for all parents – the process will be more efficient and will enable a greater number of families to be assisted.
Centre for Education Excellence (Secular and Jewish) – this will offer world class programs for teacher development thereby attracting and retaining teachers who are engaging and innovative.
Resource Collaboration Working Group – this group will look for opportunities for shared resourcing, delivering better financial outcomes for schools which are then passed on to the community
School Grants – a capped voucher will assist families into primary schools at Jewish Day Schools thereby building and improving affordability
A scorecard for Jewish Day Schools – an internal scorecard will allow schools to review their performance and continually improve while an external scorecard will allow the schools to fully communicate their excellence and promote themselves to community (not based solely on HSC results)
A Jewish Education Alliance – this will deliver greater coordination and efficiency between schools and all Jewish Education providers, ensuring Jewish education remains a top priority at all times.
“The intention overall was to ensure sustainability and innovation in the education space in the future,” the committee said in a media statement.
The committee was chaired by David Gonski AC, and supported by communal leaders Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, Stephen Chipkin, Jonathan Gavshon, Anna Green, Anne Hastings, Gary Pinshaw, Caryn Sandler, Jacquie Seemann and Allan Vidor.
“We resolved not to dictate to the schools what should be done, nor to give overarching opinions on all aspects of the situation,” Gonski said in the media statement.
“Instead, we determined to make a contribution by arming our Jewish education providers with the kinds of big picture strategies they need to survive the challenges ahead and continue thriving.”
Gonski said that “following the publication of the report, a series of discussions will be held to determine the pathways the schools wish to take. The initiatives communicated throughout this report remain flexible, and it is vital that any actions are undertaken in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.
“Discussions will also ensue with donors to better curate the holistic solutions to the needs of community and the schools”, Gonski added.
The Committee will hold an online question and answer session on April 5.
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