Only the determination and unity of members will protect public education

Retirement looms for a large proportion of the teacher workforce.

Prior to and during the current salaries dispute the Federation has repeatedly asserted the importance of maintaining professional and attractive salaries if the O’Farrell Government is to properly staff NSW public schools and TAFE colleges with appropriately qualified and experienced teaching staff. In supporting this position, reference has been made to the 2008 report from the NSW Auditor-General which not only predicted that 50 per cent of the school-based teaching service would reach retirement age by 2016, but also that the DEC would face shortages in a range of subject areas and geographical locations.

Even without its attempt to cut the real incomes of teachers, figures obtained from the DEC in recent weeks by the Federation have made clear the difficulties the O’Farrell Government will face in the next few years. In schools, nearly 45 per cent of permanently employed teachers are 50 years or older, with 24 per cent 55 or older. In TAFE the figures are even more concerning, with nearly 67 per cent of permanent TAFE teachers aged 50 and above, with 42 per cent aged above 55. While some teachers have deferred retirement as a result of the impact of the global financial crises on their superannuation, it is clear that the retirement rate will quickly escalate in the coming years.

In the past, the DEC has claimed that there is unlikely to be a problem, pointing to an extensive list of school teachers seeking employment. The precise numbers on the list seem to fluctuate wildly, seemingly dependent upon which spokesperson is referring to it.

Unfortunately, the list is likely to be of little comfort to those still teaching in the years ahead. It has been well known for many years that there are major problems with the list. These include a mismatch between the areas where shortages will arise and the reluctance of many on the list to teach in those areas. This in turn is likely to be further compounded by a shortage of people on the list with the qualifications needed for the vacant positions. Importantly, the Auditor- General, in the 2008 report, indicated that there were likely to be growing shortages in a range of secondary subjects which goes well beyond the frequently reported mathematics and physics, as well as for primary teachers in some geographic areas.

In TAFE, the rapid exit of such a large proportion of the teaching service is likely to pose a challenge that is likely to be beyond TAFE management. Not only will TAFE lose large numbers of teachers, it will also lose a disproportionate number of those who the system relies upon for the effective day-today operation of the colleges.

If the O’Farrell Government was to succeed with its attempts to cut the real income of teachers, the problems that are already ahead for both public schools and TAFE colleges will be greatly exacerbated. And in times of teacher shortage, what will the O’Farrell Government do? Increase class sizes, reduce release time and/ or put unqualified or under-qualified teachers into our schools? Flawed policies around local employment will only further worsen the situation, as schools in less favourable areas find in increasingly difficult to compete with schools in more favourable areas for the appropriately qualified teachers they need.

With the approach of the O’Farrell Government to industrial relations, education and teachers to date, nothing can be ruled out. It will only be the determination and unity of members of the Teachers Federation that will protect our students, schools, TAFE colleges and their fellow members.

My retirement

As most members are probably already aware, I will officially retire as President of the Teachers Federation when my term of office expires at the end of the forthcoming vacation. With 28 years of teaching in NSW public education and 10 years working full-time for Federation, including six years as a Senior Officer, I decided some time ago that the end of my current term of office was the appropriate time to retire.

Of course, there is no “good” time to retire. This is especially so with the ongoing campaigns around salaries, federal funding, staffing, devolution and competition policy in TAFE, NAPLAN and assessment and many other issues that underpin the quality of our public education and TAFE system. Nevertheless I am absolutely confident that the Federation and its advocacy for public education will be in the best of hands under the leadership of the incoming President Maurie Mulheron and my three continuing Senior Officer colleagues, Gary Zadkovich, Joan Lemaire and Jenny Diamond.

As this is the last President Writes before I retire I would like place on the record my enormous gratitude to Gary, Joan and Jenny, to my fellow Federation Officers, the great staff of the Federation and to you, the members who do the hard work every day across NSW, for allowing me the opportunity to represent you and to lead what is arguably one of the most effective and significant organisations in this state.

Bob Lipscombe is President of the New south Wales Teachers Federation.