Minns government introduces education targets while schools remain under construction

The Minns Government has announced a series of ambitious academic, HSC attainment and school attendance targets for public schools across New South Wales, aiming to improve outcomes for students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

The new system-wide measures are intended to provide clearer guidance for school leaders and improve education across all sectors, including comprehensive primary and high schools, selective schools, regional and rural schools, and Schools for Specific Purposes. However, concerns have been raised about how schools can all reach the same standard while some schools remain a construction zone or unfit for learning, and there are ongoing significant funding issues across the system.

The targets set for 2027 include:

• Increasing average NAPLAN scores:
  • Year 5 Reading by 10.2 points
  • Year 9 Reading by 5.8 points
  • Year 5 Numeracy by 11.5 points
  • Year 9 Numeracy by 5.7 points
• Increasing the proportion of students attaining Year 12 from 70.5 per cent (2022) to 74 per cent
• Growing the number of school leavers moving into university, training, or work from 88.1 per cent to 92 per cent
• Lifting the average student attendance rate from 87.8 per cent (2023) to 88.8 per cent

The Minns Government argues these targets are necessary to reverse what it describes as 12 years of neglect under the previous Liberal-National administration, citing declining international rankings in reading, science and mathematics, as well as growing educational disadvantages in rural, regional, and remote areas.

To achieve these goals, the government has implemented several initiatives, including:

• Reducing teacher vacancies to a four-year low, a 40 per cent reduction since 2023
• Making Small Group Tuition permanent in all NSW public schools
• Trialling a Number Screening Check for Year 1 students
• Delivering the largest teacher pay rise in a generation
• Converting 16,000 temporary teachers and school support staff to permanent positions
• Implementing a new knowledge-rich NSW Curriculum

Alongside academic goals, the Department of Education has introduced measures to support teacher wellbeing and retention, as well as prioritising school infrastructure projects. These include reducing administrative workloads, cutting teacher vacancy rates, and improving recruitment and retention efforts.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “We were elected with a commitment to rebuild public education in NSW by fixing a broken system and lifting outcomes. That is exactly what we are doing.

“We cannot undo 12 years of neglect overnight, but we are working hard to ensure that no matter your postcode, parents know their children are receiving a world-class education.

“This is about setting high expectations of our public education system and every one of our students.

“No longer will targets be focused simply on the top-achieving students – these ambitious measures will help lift outcomes for all students across the state.”

However, the NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF) has raised concerns about the government’s targets, arguing that full funding remains the most critical issue. Confidence in public education currently sits at just 51 per cent, with a target to lift this to 53 per cent by 2027.

“No public school in NSW is funded to 100 per cent of the SRS, the minimum level governments agreed was required more than a decade ago. Yet every private school in the state is funded at or above this standard,” NSWTF President Henry Rajendra said.

“Right now, principals and teachers across NSW public schools are doing an amazing job but they are being asked to do too much with too little. Student needs are growing fast but the funding hasn’t kept up.

“Full funding of public schools will lift student engagement and student achievement. Closing the resources gap is also an essential part of closing the achievement gaps between students from different backgrounds.”

The NSWTF is calling on the Albanese and Minns Governments to finalise an agreement before the next federal election to ensure all NSW public schools receive 100 per cent of the School Resource Standard (SRS). Their demands include a signed funding deal before the federal election, which would mean it has to be signed withing days.

“NSW is one of only two states without a long-term agreement on the future funding of schools. This needs to change now.

“Fully funding public schools is the only way to ensure every child gets the support they need to succeed, and we can recruit and retain enough teachers.”

Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised about delays in school infrastructure projects, with the ABC reporting setbacks in the rollout of air conditioning systems in classrooms today. Experts say that the classrooms are too hot to provide a supportive learning environment with temperatures frequently over 30 degrees.

Cost blowouts and issues in the building sector have also affected school construction projects across the state. There are unconfirmed reports that millions may be required to address structural and design issues at Armidale Secondary College. Additionally, Rocky River Primary School remains in demountables for the third consecutive year, with slow progress on new buildings – one of hundreds of of schools in a similar position.