New South Wales Consolidated Acts

EDUCATION ACT 1990 - SECT 20A

20A Functions of the Authority under this Act

(1) The Authority is to exercise its functions under this Act in connection with the education of children at both the primary and secondary level.

(2) In particular, the Authority has the following functions under this Act--

(a) to develop or endorse syllabuses and exercise its other functions under Part 3 (The School Curriculum),

(b) to provide advice and make recommendations to the Minister about the registration of non-government schools under Part 7,

(b1) to approve providers to provide courses to overseas students under Part 7A,

(c) to accredit registered non-government schools under Part 8,

(d) to grant the recognised certificates,

(e) to prepare and distribute to schools information relating to the courses of study for candidates for the recognised certificates, and information relating to eligibility to be granted those certificates,

(f) to prepare and make available to schools curriculum support materials,

(g) to develop or endorse syllabuses for courses of study that are appropriate for students (including candidates for the recognised certificates) who wish to continue at or return to school after the normal school-leaving age (including on a part-time basis),

(h) to develop or endorse, in consultation with the TAFE Commission, syllabuses for courses of study that will enable school students to be granted credits by TAFE establishments,

(i) to make such arrangements as may be necessary for the conduct of examinations or other forms of assessment for candidates for the recognised certificates and to regulate the conduct of those examinations or other forms of assessment and the recording of candidates' achievements in them,

(j) to prepare and distribute to schools information relating to the conduct of examinations and other forms of assessment for candidates for the recognised certificates,

(k) to recognise, for any of the purposes of this Act, educational attainments obtained at educational institutions outside New South Wales,

(l) to provide advice and guidance to schools concerning the policies and practices of the Authority under this Act,

(m) to provide advice and assistance to students, employers and the public concerning the nature and content of courses of study for the recognised certificates (and the assessment and reporting of candidates' achievements in those courses),

(n) to monitor, by inspection of schools and otherwise, the application of its policies in schools,

(o) to arrange for the development of appropriate curriculum resources and other material to assist in the education of school students with an Aboriginal background,

(p) to develop curriculum resources for use in the teaching of Aboriginal studies (including Aboriginal history and culture),

(q) to promote the provision of education in schools that adequately equips students to acquire a vocation and for their life in the community,

(r) to advise the Minister in relation to the following matters--

(i) any changes to the requirements of Part 3 that the Authority considers appropriate,

(ii) the functions of the Minister under Part 4,

(iii) whether changes should be made in the number or type of recognised certificates,

(iv) the likely impact of any change in the Authority's policies (particularly in relation to courses of study) on the overall planning, allocation or use of educational resources in New South Wales,

(v) special arrangements for students with special educational needs, including the approval of special courses of study, the modification of requirements for the grant of the recognised certificates and the grant of special records of achievement,

(vi) any matter in relation to which the Minister requests the Authority's advice.

(3) The Authority, in the exercise of its functions under this Act, is to have regard to the resources available for education in New South Wales schools.