Anonymous #150

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #150

Where are you located?

Western Australia

What type of area do you live in?

Metropolitan

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?

You would not often see a solicitor doing their all their own bookings, filing and admin work. Teachers are bogged down with admin work in many schools because there is no one else to do it. Adequate administrative support is vital so teachers can concentrate on education.

You would not see medical professionals give up their lunch break because they have to supervise clients in the waiting room. However this is expected of teachers. Playground duty means teachers have irregular and interrupted breaks and have little or no time to prepare for the next activity. If you are serious about elevating teachers to the status of education professionals you need to treat them as professional, not babysitters.

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.

Somewhat disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

One glaring problem is the lack of uniformity between states in terms of registration requirements. If professions such as nursing can organise a national registration system, surely the federal education authorities can do the same. Our population is now mobile and yet these antiquated barriers still exist.

The other major problem is lack of uniformity in curriculum. The establishment of a National Curriculum was a laudable goal. But there is wide variation in how the National Curriculum has been adopted in each state. The power games and one-up-man-ship, with each state thinking it knows best, need to stop. There is no sound reason why a truly practical National Curriculum can't be achieved.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

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

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

These actions are a worthwhile start. But it is obvious the remuneration of teachers is adequate but not spectacular. Therefore it will be difficult to get young people to commit to a future where their ultimate financial reward is average at best.

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?

The focus on curriculum delivery is great. But to deliver it properly it needs to be streamlined so learning and assessing can actually take place consistently. Through three decades of teaching I have seen curriculum endlessly augmented on an ad hoc basis, usually by people who have no experience in education, for political or populist ends.

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?

Moderately effective

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

It is refreshing to see someone in power actually planning for the future rather than putting out spot fires. We could achieve more if we value all facets of education, rather than just funding short term trends. Abandoning humanities in favour of hard sciences is the supreme example of ignorance of the purpose of education to our society. We need to be broadening our scope, not limiting it.

Successful industries know about research and development to diversify their strengths and ensure flexibility for the future. Not sure why we can't do this as a nation.

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?

Pathways are great but without adequate administrative support and worthwhile advances in remuneration, many teachers can't see the point of taking on the extra stress leadership roles can entail.