Page 4392 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 8 December 1993
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MR STEVENSON: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I thank the Minister for answering the question. Would it not be more relevant to try to keep those teachers with considerable experience, in view of the concerns that we have about the education system? Also, as packages normally are offered in order to reduce staff, would it not be best to remove that incentive now, in light of the fact that teacher numbers will not be reduced?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, you really are asking for two sets of opinions. Mr Wood, you may answer the question, but keep that in mind. He is not to ask you for an opinion.
MR WOOD: I am happy to answer it because I think Mr Stevenson raises an interesting point. First of all, these are separation packages. They are not the pure redundancy packages that do result in no replacement of a person. There is a slight difference in concept.
Mr Stevenson asked: Why do we not hold on to our experienced teachers? I can answer that by saying that our enrolment pattern in the last 10 to 15 years has been such that we have been taking on very few new teachers and our teaching staff is somewhat out of kilter. For most of the ACT's history, and in most circumstances around Australia, the pattern has been for continuous growth in the number of young people. Fifteen years ago we had 40,000 people in our schools. We still have about 40,000 or 41,000 people in our schools. There has been no great influx of new teachers because of student growth. In terms of a more symmetrical range of teachers, we probably have a great number of older, more experienced teachers, but we also need that younger group of teachers. I think we will get a better balance if we can go down that path. We still have, predominantly, very experienced teaching staff in the ACT.
Ms Follett: I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Adelaide Avenue Roadworks
MR CONNOLLY: In the last sitting week, which seems a long time ago, Ms Szuty asked a question about what surveyors were doing out on Adelaide Avenue. I undertook to have the matter looked into. The work is preliminary survey work for the item that is identified in the 1993-94 capital works program, under ACT City Services Group, as item No. 3357, Adelaide Avenue Bus Lane Pavement Improvements Stage 2. It involves reconstruction and repair of the bus lane on the citybound carriageway from the end of the guard rail north of Carruthers Street on Yarra Glen to Hopetoun Circuit. Rehabilitation of the Adelaide Avenue bus lane on the citybound carriageway from Hopetoun Circuit to State Circle was completed in October 1992. The work was surveying. Pegs have been placed and it is expected that the pavement reconstruction will be completed by, I am told, May of next year.
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