Salaries increases for all remain the priority

By

Bob Lipscombe

By re-announcing the availability of Institute of Teachers accreditation the NSW Government is engaging in diversionary tactics.

On August 22 Acting Education and Training Minister John Hatzistergos announced that Institute of Teachers accreditation at the levels of Professional Accomplishment and Professional Leadership were now available. In keeping with the long-established practice in the education portfolio, this was a repeat of the media release and announcement already made by Minister John Della Bosca on May 28.

At the time of the original announcement Federation made its position clear. The union does not oppose the establishment of explicit standards by the Institute, however, it is an insult to expect teachers to pay an initial application fee of $60 and total fees ranging between $550 and $650 for the privilege of being assessed against them.

Federation's media release of May 28 stated that how accreditation might operate in public schools was unclear and that there was a need for discussions between Federation and the Department of Education and Training. It also stated: "The accreditation available to teachers at the levels of Professional Accomplishment and Leadership 'must be accompanied by resources that would ensure equitable access for all teachers in NSW public schools'.

"The Federation calls on the Minister to remedy this by identifying the resources that will be made available for recognising quality teaching and negotiating a fair process that recognises the work teachers do without placing additional burdens on them.

"The Federation rejects the imposition of a fee to access these accreditation procedures for Professional Accomplishment and Leadership. Any costs associated with this process should be borne by the State Government. This amounts to a salary cut for any teachers who seek accreditation."

Media speculation about salary increases attached to the Institute standards are just that. Such increases were first raised by the Federal ALP in 2006 when in opposition, with a proposal that those voluntarily achieving set standards would receive an additional $10,000 per annum over the common incremental scale. Since the election no funding for this has been forthcoming from the Rudd Federal Government, other that the allocation earlier this year of $400,000 to look at the establishment of national standards.

With no additional funding available, the possibility that in the near future national standards may displace the NSW Institute standards, and a state government which says it will only fund a 2.5 per cent salaries increase, the re-announcement on August 22 is little more than an attempted diversion. The 2.5 per cent of course makes a mockery of any suggestion that this state government is interested in rewarding teacher excellence.

Federation will not be diverted. Fully-funded across the board salary increases for all teachers remain the priority rather than targeted increases for a few.

Bob Lipscombe is Deputy President.

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