10 – Education
In its first 4 year term, Council’s purpose is to:
(i) initiate action to remedy immediately obvious and urgent gaps in Central Coast education
provision
(ii) To develop a comprehensive plan of educational needs across the Central Coast as the basis of
representations to NSW & Federal governments for adequate planning and provision in: pre-school
child care; infant educ; primary educ; secondary education; vocational education; TAFE; university.
(iii) To investigate and report on educational structures and/or provision which strengthens social
cohesion and Central Coast identity.
Elements/Actions:
10.1. Local Community Engagement
10.1.1 Council will …
10.2. Central Coast Council:
10.2.1. Gaps in child care provision: Council will assess the need for affordable child-care in
the growth corridors, and investigate the feasibility of providing, or commissioning,
child-care for workers, and out-of-school-hours care.
10.2.2 Gaps in TAFE provision: Council will commission a review with recommendations
concerning the extent and nature of vocational education on the Central Coast. Until
this is completed, Council will seek a guarantee from NSW Government and Federal
Government, that TAFE will be protected and strengthened as a public provider.
Council will encourage and support centres which match young people with jobs
while providing the job-specific training required.
10.2.3 Gaps in tertiary provision: Council will seek to establish a separate Central Coast
tertiary institution
10.2.4 Council will seek to commission an independent assessment of Central Coast student
motivation, interest in and boredom with, current status quo. The review will seek
to illuminate the role schools play in developing social cohesion and the level of
success schools have in developing good and participative citizenship.
10.2.5. Council will seek to establish, with the NSW Department of Education, and assuming
a potential 100,000 increase in population by 2036 [Central Coast Regional Plan], the
size and placement of student needs throughout the central Coast:
(i) pre-school
(ii) infants schools
(iii) primary schools
(iv) junior high schools
(v) senior high schools
(vi) TAFE and vocational education/apprenticeship/trainee providers
(vii) Emerging future job and entrepreneurial opportunities
(viii) University.
10.3. NSW Government:
10.3.1. Council will immediately enter discussions with the NSW and Federal governments
to seek adequate funding for immediate needs in child-care, TAFE and a new tertiary
institution.
10.3.2 Council will seek to establish, with the NSW Department of Education, and assuming
a 100,000 increase in population by 2036, the size and placement of student needs
throughout the Central Coast:
(i) pre-school
(ii) infants schools
(iii) primary schools
(iv) out of school hours care
(v) junior high schools
(vi) senior high schools
(vii) TAFE and vocational education/apprenticeship/trainee providers
(viii) Emerging future job and entrepreneurial opportunities
(ix) University
10.4. Federal Government:
10.4.1 Council will immediately enter discussions with the NSW and Federal governments
to seek adequate funding for immediate needs in child-care, TAFE and a new
university
10.4.2 Council will seek funds from the Federal Government and its agencies to undertake
the studies for the Central Coast outlined here.
