A push for higher salaries for teachers should spark a national conversation about the recognition of the teaching profession, says Australian Greens spokesperson for Schools, Senator Penny Wright.

"It is wonderful that there is growing recognition of the need to treat teaching as we treat other professions," Senator Wright said.

"At the moment, teachers reach the highest pay level very quickly and the only way they can advance their careers is to move out of the classroom to administrative roles.

The Labor Government is prepared to risk the education of Australian children to boost their own electoral chances, says Australian Greens spokesperson on Schools, Senator Penny Wright.

"Fixing our broken school funding system is too important to leave in Tony Abbott's hands, yet Labor is staking it all on last-chance COAG negotiations to produce an 'education election'," Senator Wright said.

State and Federal Governments must focus on getting an agreement on the Gonski reforms in the next few weeks before the opportunity is lost, says Australian Greens spokesperson for schools, Senator Penny Wright.

Speaking at the Walk for Gonski event in Adelaide today, Senator Penny Wright called on the Federal Government to introduce a fully-funded plan for the Gonski school reforms when parliament resumes in May.

The Australian Education Bill must be amended to prioritise the most disadvantaged schools first, says Australian Greens spokesperson on Schools, Senator Penny Wright.

Labor and the Coalition have walked away from core tenets of the recommendations of the Gonski school funding review, says Australian Greens spokesperson on Schools Senator Penny Wright.

The Labor and Liberal parties voted against a Senate motion today to provide stronger support to teachers and address under-resourcing of public schools.

The Australian Education Bill must be amended to prioritise the most disadvantaged schools first, says Australian Greens spokesperson on Schools, Senator Penny Wright.

In additional comments to a Senate Committee's report on the Bill, released today, Senator Wright called for any additional Commonwealth funding to be targeted at reducing inequality.

"The Australian Education Bill is merely a statement of aspirations towards the Gonski school funding recommendations," Senator Wright said.

I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I will move that the Senate:

a. recognises that:

i. improving teacher quality is one of various important components to raising education standards in Australian schools;

ii. measures to ensure trainee teachers have the necessary skills and aptitude are fitting but should be complemented with other incentives to attract candidates to the profession;

As the Australian Greens spokesperson for schools & education, I watched the Q&A education discussion on Monday with interest.

Tougher teacher training standards announced by the Government today will only succeed if professional support for teachers is also increased, says Australian Greens spokesperson on Schools, Senator Penny Wright.

"We all want our teachers to be of the highest possible standard, but if we are going to create more hoops to jump through we also need to provide more incentives to jump through those hoops," Senator Wright said.