ACT Parents, the peak body for ACT public school parents, is urging families to act now, with the organisation's survey a final opportunity for parent experiences to be heard directly by the panel reviewing public school funding and staffing.
ACT Parents Executive Officer Veronica Elliott said feedback received through the public school resourcing survey so far showed parents across the Territory had consistent concerns.
"Parents are sending a very clear message: ACT public schools are being stretched too thin, and students are paying the price," Ms Elliott said.
"ACT Parents made a submission to the public school resourcing review panel in midDecember, and since then we've continued to hear from parents and carers across the Territory who are all saying the same thing - schools need to be equitably funded and properly resourced to do their job."
Ms Elliott said staffing shortages and learning disruption were among the most common concerns raised by families.
"Parents want their children learning five days a week in stable classrooms. That means schools having enough teachers to cover absences and relief, not relying on splitting classes, collapsing groups or constantly reshuffling students just to get through the day," she said.
"Families understand pressures exist, but they don't accept a system where disrupted learning has become normalised. That's not fair on students, and it's not sustainable for school staff."
Ms Elliott said the survey findings would directly inform ACT Parents' ongoing input to the review panel, but families needed to act now, with the survey closing on Wednesday 4 February.
"This survey gives families a real chance to put their experiences on the record. ACT Parents will be providing updated input to the review panel, so this feedback will directly inform the decisions being made about how public schools are funded and staffed," she said.
"The choices made through this review will shape public education for years to come. Parents deserve to be heard - and this is their opportunity to do that."
