Page 3342 - Week 09 - Thursday, 22 August 2019
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We have no problem with the mechanism or with the concept of having to register, but the use of the word “approval” suggests that the registration is something within the gift of the TQI; in fact, it really is not. I would encourage the minister and the directorate to consider the use of the phrase “apply for admission to the register” or “inclusion on the register of pre-service teachers”. This would perhaps better encapsulate the process and the particular role that the TQI plays. Although we have raised an issue with the phrasing, we will keep a watching brief on it, and at this stage we do not intend to make any amendments to it.
The second major change under the bill is to establish a mechanism for sharing information kept by the TQI on both the teacher register and the new pre-service teacher register. There are two provisions for this power. The first allows the TQI to share the anonymised information on the registers with approved data linkages agencies, as part of the national teacher workforce data strategy. This is an important facet of ensuring that there are appropriately qualified teachers in the labour force and will also help to address any shortcomings in supply within future planning for the teacher workforce. The act also allows the sharing of anonymised information on the registers with other entities for planning and research purposes.
Finally, the act also removes a grandfathering clause from within the TQI act which allows teachers who were qualified when three-year courses were the norm to continue to teach. Grandfathering clauses are an important factor in maintaining a working regulatory system as it evolves, as much as the transitional provisions that existed, but it is also important that they be removed when appropriate. After much consultation undertaken by the opposition within the sector, it is widely believed that sufficient time has passed since the introduction of the grandfathering clause and that the amendment to remove that provision will not have an impact on any teachers currently registered within the ACT.
Overall, these changes in the bill are seen to be reasonable and necessary. They will ensure a more uniform system of teacher qualification, more transparent pre-service training and, most importantly, more disciplined use of hyphens. The Canberra Liberals will be supporting the bill.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (11.09): The ACT Greens are happy to support the bill that is before us today, and I will speak only briefly to the amendments. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the Teacher Quality Institute, TQI, and the often silent role they play in safeguarding the education system. As a former education minister, I had the pleasure of working with the very passionate and hardworking staff at TQI for a short period. As a small organisation whose activities primarily take place behind the scenes, they certainly impressed upon me the importance of the work they do and the commitment they have towards supporting the Education Directorate and, of course, the teaching profession.
The bill today supports the professionalisation of the teacher workforce, safeguards the quality of the teaching profession in the ACT and progresses the whole-of-government commitment to child safety. As Mr Wall noted, while the amendments are mainly technical in nature, I certainly recognise the benefits that the
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