A report on the effectivenessand efficiency of Government services across the nation has been released by the Federal Productivity Commission. Report on Government Services 2010 was produced by a Steering Committee comprised of Senior Officials from State and Territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth and is the fifteenth edition of the report.
No.1 in productivity comparison
NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth welcomed the findings, saying the report showed NSW students continued to achieve high results in literacy and numeracy.
“The NSW Government has a proven track record of delivering excellent results across the public school system,” Ms Firth said.
“We continue to have the lowest out-of-school costs of any State.
“Keeping the bureaucracy costs down ensures money is directed to where it is needed most - to the teachers and students in the classroom.”
The report showed NSW was among the top three performing jurisdictions for every year and subject in the National Assessment Program - literacy and numeracy (NAPLAN) and was the top State for students meeting the national minimum standard in Year 3 writing and numeracy.
Ms Firth said the report showed between 93 and 95 per cent of NSW students achieved the national minimum standard in reading in each year tested (NAPLAN).
She said it also showed the rate of NSW students from low socio-economic backgrounds completing Year 12 was the highest in Australia.
“These are exceptionally good results and we will build on these successes with a range of new initiatives to drive even more improvement,” Ms Firth said.
The report also showed apparent retention rates for all students in NSW were below the national average, however Ms Firth said the new school leaving age would help lift retention rates.
“In the biggest shift in education policy in 60 years, all students are now required to stay at school until the end of Year 10 and then continue in education, training or paid work until they turn 17,” she said.
The report also identified the need to bridge the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students in reading, writing and numeracy.
The Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision was chaired by the Chairman of the Productivity Commission, Gary Banks and included representatives of State and Territory Departments of Premier and Cabinet, Treasury, and Finance and the Federal Departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury, and Finance and Deregulation.
The full report can be accessed at www.pc.gov.au
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