Association of Parents and Friends of ACT Schools Inc

Membership and Governance

• Membership is open to all school Parents & Friends (P&Fs) organisations in the ACT that have an interest in education at non-government schools.

• Affiliates are largely the P&F Associations of the relevant schools. However, representation from other bodies such as school boards or councils where this is considered appropriate is accepted.

• Each affiliated organisation can nominate two delegates to attend general meetings of APFACTS.

• The governing committee of APFACTS is elected at an Annual General Meeting. This committee may co-opt other members as it sees fit.

   

APFACTS Objectives

• To safeguard the rights and promote the interests of parents and children in non-government schools in the ACT.

• To improve the standard of education in the ACT.

• To promote parents’ rights to choose the kind of education given to their children without financial disadvantage being imposed on them or their children by the State.

• To achieve, for all parents and children, equity in the distribution of public funds for education.

• To ensure that government policies and controls do not undermine the essential characteristics and autonomy of non-government schools.

   

APFACTS Philosophy

• Children attending non-government schools have the right to an equitable share of government funds for their schooling.

• Parents are the first educators of their children and have the prior right to choose the education that should be given to their children.

• Non-government school authorities should be free to set school curriculum, establish enrolment policies, and employ teachers in accordance with their school's aims and objectives. 

• Governments should assist and support the family, which is the central institution and focus of society.  In education, Governments should facilitate choice of schooling for their citizens.  Governments should assist in equitable sharing of public funds available for schooling.

• States must protect the right of children to receive adequate standard of education. In ensuring that an 'adequate standard of education' is met, wherever there is sufficient parental demand for them, governments should actively support the efforts of parents and school communities to establish viable non-government schools.