A record seven new Families as First Teachers (FaFT) centres highlights the 2019 Education Budget, which continues to deliver on the Territory Government’s investment in generational change.
The Territory Government will spend $1.5 million to expand FaFT to seven remote communities, bringing the total number operating in the Territory to 53 (up from 27 centres in 2016).
The FaFT program, introduced by a Territory Government 10-years ago, focuses on early learning literacy and numeracy so young children are ready for day one of school.
The seven communities are:
- Robinson River
- Areyonga
- Urapunga
- Barunga
- Laramba
- Mount Allan
- Milikapiti
The total NT Department of Education Budget for 2019 is $1.08 billion, nearly half of which, $518 million, is to go directly to schools to support student learning and to recruit teachers.
Other highlights of the 2019 Education Budget are:
- $29 million for Stage 2 of Zuccoli which will see the construction of a Territory Government primary school and shared facilities, including an oval.
- $2 million for an engagement centre at Tennant Creek High School to support programs such as STARS and Clontarf.
- $2.3 million to deliver professional learning and coaching programs to improve the quality of teaching.
- $2.2 million to establish the School and System Improvement unit to support schools to measure the progress towards achieving improved outcomes for our students.
- $2 million towards the Framework for Inclusion to promote an environment in NT Government schools which is inclusive, fair and focused on delivering learning to meet individual needs.
Budget 2019 also includes the third round of the Territory Government’s core Building Better Schools initiative, which will see every school receive $300,000 to upgrade their infrastructure over this term of government.
Source: NT Government