Anonymous #023

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #023

Where are you located?

New South Wales

What type of area do you live in?

Regional or rural

Are you an education professional?
(e.g. teacher, school leader, learning support assistant, teacher’s aide)

Yes

Which sector do you work in?

Primary

What is your occupation?

Teacher

Elevating the profession

The actions proposed recognise the value teachers bring to students, communities and the economy.

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Elevating the teacher profession is important. To do this, more postgraduate qualifications are required across Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary. HALT should include two pathways. 1) a school-based pathway, which is the current process and 2) a university pathway. For the university pathway, a Masters of Education (coursework) degree should immediately qualify classroom teachers for Highly Accomplished level. A Masters of Research or EdD should immediately qualify classroom teachers at Lead Teacher level. A PhD or EdD should be have a next level entirely for a classroom teacher. I would like to see more classroom teachers (particularly in primary schools) with higher degree research qualifications. Also note: A Master of Teaching should immediately qualify a teacher at Proficient Teacher. This process will also help to elevate the teaching profession and improve engagement with research.

Improving teacher supply

The actions proposed will be effective in increasing the number of students entering ITE, number of students completing ITE and the number of teachers staying in and/or returning to the profession.

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

The actions proposed will ensure initial teacher education supports teacher supply and quality.

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Maximising the time to teach

The actions proposed will improve retention and free up teachers to focus on teaching and collaboration.

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Cut back on requirements for assessment and reporting and focus instead on great pedagogy. Assess in more efficient and effective ways to ensure more time is spent on great teaching and learning. Cut back on requirements for evidence, evidence, evidence of learning. Online learning journals (e.g. Seesaw), projects, student reflections, workbooks etc should suffice. Clearer guidelines across the sectors would help as some sectors make up their own additional rules, which does not help. Please get rid of A-E reporting scale. Parents don't understand it. It doesn't help anyone.

Better understanding future teacher workforce needs

How effective are the proposed actions in better understanding future teacher workforce needs, including the number of teachers required?

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Better career pathways to support and retain teachers in the profession

The proposed actions will improve career pathways, including through streamlining the process for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) accreditation, and providing better professional support for teachers to retain them in the profession.

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Improving career pathways (including the HALT process) is a good idea. However, HALT should include two pathways. 1) a school-based pathway, which is the current process and 2) a university pathway. For the university pathway, a Masters of Education (coursework) degree should immediately qualify teachers for Highly Accomplished level. A Masters of Research or EdD should immediately qualify classroom teachers at Lead Teacher level. A PhD or EdD should be have a next level entirely for a classroom teacher. I would like to see more classroom teachers (particularly in primary schools) with higher degree research qualifications. Also note: A Master of Teaching should immediately qualify a teacher at Proficient Teacher. This process will also help to elevate the teaching profession and improve engagement with research.