Talkin' 'bout a Revolution

At the beginning of last year, almost 10 months to the day before he was elected Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd called for an education revolution.

More than 100 days in to the new government and we don't really know what that will mean. Labor has committed to making sure every school student in Year 9 and above will have access to a computer. Cost: $1 billion.

The ALP's also promised to spend half a billion providing trades training centres in schools by the end of the year. And $2.5 billion over 10 years.

And there's a shade under another half a billion, $489 million, so that schools can install solar power.

I could go on. But I won't because here's the thing. The government is making cuts, it's making noises about its first budget being tough. It will certainly be tough on some education programs, the ones introduced by the Howard government.

Summer School for teachers is cactus. Not only did Labor never like it, but killing it claws back $70 million and has no political downside. It's gone.

Teaching Australia - probably gone. Its job is to promote professionalism and standards but the state registration boards already do this.

Literacy and numeracy vouchers - not looking too well. This program provides $700 worth of tuition for struggling kids in years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Doesn't sound much but it adds up to real money - $380 million or so over the next three years. However, at the moment there isn't a lot of take-up, partly because unless you live in the right areas, you will struggle to find a good enough tutor. And partly because the rates good tutors charge mean $700 barely gets you started.

The Howard government had an idealogical affinity with the vouchers but Labor doesn't. It's another idea the ALP criticised at the time and another one it can ditch with almost no downside, as long as it puts the money saved into schools.

As for the "Education Revolution", the computers will get plugged in, probably. It's a good fit with Labor's emphasis on broadband and a good idea too. As in most things, the devil will be in the detail. And unless that detail includes substantial IT training for teachers - most of whom have very limited knowledge and skills - it's going to be a fizzer.

The other education proposals Labor has may not survive the tough Budget process, or at least, not in the same timeframes.