Page 5832 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 7 December 2011
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… we are not able to use the most important resource, teachers, as effectively as we could … we are not able to attract the best graduates because we cannot offer them a career path, pay and recognition that would make teaching a profession of choice again.
The government’s previous offers would have continued to see the ACT teachers as amongst the lowest paid in the nation. But the issues raised by the AEU were not just about financial remuneration; the concerns also related to overworking, poorly designed assessments of school complexity and a very short-sighted view of workforce retention and supporting excellence. There have been other issues relating to the Education and Training Directorate not properly supporting the work of its staff or reducing the capacity of specific programs or sections.
It is not just the teachers in our schools that we need to support; it is the program managers and policy developers who are tasked often with more than one project and sometimes in differing areas. It is the staff who have a teaching role, a policy and program development role and who put in extra and unpaid hours to activities that enhance the education and experience of our children, who are doing their best to juggle multiple demands. It is the school counsellors, whose positions are so important and yet so poorly remunerated that many jobs are unfilled.
While the Greens support Ms Porter’s motion, some of it is a little premature in that it asks the Assembly to note the successful implementation of the national curriculum in the ACT. The fact is that the national curriculum is being released in three phases and will not be fully implemented in the ACT until the start of 2013. While the Greens acknowledge the hard work and competent way it has been put in place to date, we still have some way to go. I do know that teachers will continue to diligently and with all their professional skills see this process through.
Ms Porter’s motion also asks the Assembly to note the successful ACT implementation of national partnerships. It is my understanding that while there have, indeed, been many positive initiatives implemented as a result of the national partnerships, such as the youth commitment signing ceremony to do with youth attainment and transitions, there is still a long way to go.
The literacy and numeracy partnerships are a work in progress, and as is the teacher quality partnership. Similarly, it is my understanding that the development of the national professional standards for teachers and a national standard for principals is also work to be considered ongoing and not complete. Furthermore, the qualified success or otherwise of these partnerships will be based on ongoing assessments from the Council of Australian Governments reform council.
Excellent teachers are an asset to the community, and an excellent education system benefits us all. The Greens believe that by properly investing in our education sector staff we are investing in the future of our children and young people, and only by a properly resourced workforce can we achieve the best outcomes. Our policy has always been that it is the responsibility of government to ensure the provision of high quality, well resourced and safe learning environments that are open to all students
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