The Age Schools Summit LIVE: Minister for Education Ben Carroll announces $75m education fund

Before leaving the stage here at the Crown Conference Centre, Deputy Premier Ben Carroll has rebuffed suggestions that he might be in contention for the Labor Party’s top job.

There have been recent leadership questions circling Premier Jacinta Allan, and Carroll is widely considered to be her most likely replacement if an official challenge were to commence.

“I do intend to be education minister. I love this job … I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I’ve got it for four more years,” Carroll says.

“It’s never been done before that a Labor government after 12 years has been re-elected … you’ve almost got to be fighting like you’re fighting for your first campaign.”

Education Minister Ben Carroll has reiterated his support for the current proposed deal with the Australian Education Union, predicting that negotiations will be finalised by August or September.

Carroll says that under the government’s proposed conditions, wages for teachers and other education workers are essentially “going up by a third”.

“There is a minority out there … they are a loud minority. And they’re advocating as they should. But I’m confident this is a very good deal, and it will get through,” he says.

He told the audience at The Age Schools Summit that the pay deal currently on the table “sells itself”. The four-year deal is offering pay rises of 28 to 32 per cent for teachers and principals and 24 per cent for educational support workers.

The Australian Education Union is working to persuade its members to accept the four-year deal. However, Education support (ES) employees in the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) have voted to reject the offer

Education Minister Ben Carroll has announced a new funding pledge for the state’s education system – $75 million that will be put towards boosting programs for Victoria’s brightest state school students.

“We will do anything we can to make sure that children do reach their full potential, that no one is held back,” Carroll says.

“The funding package will ensure there’s a pathway for excellence in every school for every student, regardless of background.”

The million-dollar pledge will fund the programs for the next three school years, with 75,000 places in extension and enrichment activities for students from prep to year 12, and 48,000 places for year 5 to year 8 students in a 10-week online enrichment program in English and maths through the Victorian High-Ability Program.

“I know the challenges are immense. But I also know our teachers and principals and educators … are up to the challenges,” Carroll says.

Ben Carroll is touching on some of the most pressing educational challenges and successes during his address at the summit.

He’s already mentioned the ongoing negotiations with the Australian Education Union – putting his support behind the current pay agreement being offered by the government.

“This agreement will put [teachers] up there with the highest paid nationally. Competitive wages … that is what our teachers deserve. There’s no more complex, important job in our state.”

Other issues mentioned by Carroll include the need to manage teacher loads, encouraging screen-time limits in schools and the impact of cost-of-living challenges on students.

“I know your best is not done when you’re drowning in paperwork, and it’s done when you have more time to focus on students and their families,” Carroll said to teachers.

He has emphasised the important role of teachers, principals, classroom support workers and everyone else working inside Victorian schools.

“I often say there is an educational revolution that is occurring across the state in the classrooms. And it’s no doubt paying dividends,” Carroll said.

The Age’s education editor (and chair of today’s summit) Noel Towell kicked off proceedings with an address to the crowd here at the Crown Conference Centre.

Now we’re hearing from Education Minister and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, who says he’s proud to hold “the best job in government”.

“It’s a real thrill that I enjoy immensely every minute of the day. And I hope it continues,” Carroll says. He’ll now launch into his ministerial address.

Education Minister Ben Carroll and Liberal education spokesman Brad Rowswell are both making appearances at today’s summit.

Both men will be making policy announcements, with Rowswell priming an ambitious program of early detection of neurodiversity in the early years of school – set to cost $156 million over four years – if the Liberals win government this year.

Carroll pledged another $75 million for programs for high achieving students if Labor wins another term in office after the state goes to the polls in November.

The keynote addresses from the two and on-stage interviews should offer insights into both Rowswell’s plan to take the fight to the incumbent, and Carroll’s plan to help keep himself and his Labor colleagues in their jobs.

Education policy, particularly school funding and taxation, has attracted plenty of controversy in recent years.

Now it’s time to see if our schools will form a key election battleground this year.

The speech from the Australia Educational Research Organisation’s (AERO) Jenny Donovan this morning is shaping up as one to watch.

The AERO chief executive, a key figure in evidence-based push toward explicit instruction in recent years, told The Age last week of a backlash against the reforms among teachers and academics, despite early claims they are raising test scores.

Donovan said her organisation, which is funded by the Commonwealth and state governments, had been a leading force for the evidence-based reforms beginning to sweep through Australia’s schools and universities. However, that piece sparked quite the reaction among our many readers in the sector, and you can read about that here.

You can be sure there will be plenty in the room today with their own thoughts on Donovan’s ideas. She’s on stage at 10:40am.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of this year’s The Age Schools Summit from Melbourne’s Crown Conference Centre.

I’m Gemma Grant, and I’ll be keeping you updated here throughout the day. We’ll be hearing from some of the state’s leading educators, policymakers, and thought leaders as they tackle the most pressing challenges and opportunities in Victoria’s education landscape.

As usual, there is a lot to talk about this year: the pressing issue of teacher welfare; the growing risk and opportunity of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools; and how to maintain trust in the teaching profession as faith in institutions breaks down. We’ll also wade into increasing controversy with a keynote on the “perils” of the evidence-based agenda.

And of course, there’s an election. You can find the schedule here to choose your own highlights.