Breakthrough on staffing and resourcing of collegiates

By Maree O’Halloran

Federation and the DET have reached agreement regarding the staffing and resourcing of college groups (collegiates). The agreement ensures the Department cannot use the formation of college groups as a cost-cutting exercise.

The agreement comes after two years of ad hoc change in the secondary system with no state-wide framework about resourcing and industrial conditions for members in college groups. The achievement of this agreement will now provide some security and certainty for members in areas where college groups are being formed.

The agreement describes how and under what conditions college groups can form and operate. However, it does not and cannot address the fundamental issue of why or whether college groups need to be formed.

The Government believes that college groups, because they offer a type of "mini-system" to students, will stop the drift of enrolments to the private sector. That is, that college groups will be able to maximise the advantages of the public system compared to "stand-alone" private schools. As has been reported in previous Education editions, there is not yet any evidence to support or reject such an assertion. Furthermore, there are "stand-alone" schools in the public system which would appear to suffer relative disadvantage under such a scenario.

Federation has raised real concerns about the social and welfare issues surrounding college groups and demanded a review of secondary provision generally to ensure that we pause and reflect and evaluate the current college groups to ensure that we are heading in the right direction for public education.

The agreement establishes the union's right to negotiate for such a review to take place in 2001. The review will include an independent evaluation of college groups currently in operation.

Some of the major features of the college group agreement are:

1. It applies state-wide to all current and potential college groups.
2. It established a principal position at each campus (school) and an additional position (requiring extra funding) of college principal. The role statement of the college principal is still being negotiated to ensure that there are no demarcation issues between the role of school and college principals.
3. Staffing and resourcing will be not less than the aggregate of staffing and resourcing would have been for "stand alone" schools. Any savings generated are to be used within the college to provide release and relief or extra positions.
4. Paid year advisers for each lot of students based on the total college enrolment. The maximum will be six times the total number of campuses.
5. A process is established to enable teachers, including those in promotions positions, to have the opportunity to teach years 11 and 12.
Trade Union Training for teachers in college groups will be organised for members to discuss the agreement in detail.

Maree O'Halloran is the Senior Vice President.

For further information

November 2000 contents