Victorian Inquiry into the Education of Gifted and Talented Students

On March 23 this year, the Education and Training Committee of the Victorian Parliament announced a call for public input into a review of educational programs targeting gifted and talented school students. In a media release titled “Supporting gifted and talented students to shine” Committee Chair, Mr David Southwick MP, said, “Giftedness and talent may take various forms, and is not just limited to academic achievements. Students may be gifted in areas relating to art, music, sport or interpersonal skills.”  He continued to state that, “Under this broad definition between 3 and 15 per cent of the population is considered to be gifted.”

The Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children recently responded to the Parliamentary Inquiry and presented a submission addressing the inquiry terms of reference.  Under the leadership of the VAGTC president, Carmel Mehan, the committee outlined the state of gifted education in Victoria today and a vision for how gifted education could perceivably look in the near future.

The VAGTC acknowledges that this inquiry is an opportunity for greater emphasis to be placed on gifted and talented education in our Victorian schools. Furthermore, this inquiry highlights the urgency to meet the needs of a student population that for too long have not been appropriately catered for in our education system.   

The Education and Training Committee will consider how well current policies and programs cater to the special needs of gifted and talented students throughout the state. Furthermore, the Committee will address the role of teachers in identifying and responding to gifted and talented students. This will include examining teacher training and the support that teachers and school leaders need to cater for these students. The Committee will also examine underperformance in gifted and talented students and how to address negative attitudes and misconceptions about giftedness and talent.

A copy of the VAGTC submission will be posted on the state Parliament website at: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/etc/inquiries/inquiry/275

 Report by Michael Bond

Michael Bond is the Gifted and Talented Education Coordinator in the Junior School (K-6) at Oxley College and Vice President of the VAGTC. 

Additional information:

State Fails Gifted Students The Age, August 29, 2011