Professional development funds delayed

By Jennifer Leete

The DET has been delayed in transferring millions of dollars worth of professional development funding into school bank accounts.

Many principals have phoned Federation to ask why this funding did not arrive with the first global budget allocation for the 2004 school year.

The ALP in its 2003 state election platform said:
"From the start of the 2004 school year, school-based teacher professional development will be significantly enhanced by providing an additional $36 million per school year directly to schools to improve quality teaching. This will see a total of $144 million provided over four school years and increase the per head expenditure per year to around $700 per teacher. This will be done by:

• providing additional funding of $44 million over four school years ($39 million over the next four financial years) directly to schools for locally determined professional development. The additional funding will be allocated on the basis of need, according to weightings that recognise certain disadvantages such as distance, the experience levels of schools leadership and staff as well as the socio-economic status of the community the school serves. This type of approach was supported by Professor Tony Vinson;
• redirecting $100 million, over four years, in existing professional development funds to the school level. This will ensure both local and statewide priorities are given the attention they deserve."

Nevertheless, the DET has proceeded and toward the end of last year consulted the Federation about a proposed new professional development policy and guidelines for how the money could be allocated and spent by schools. All approaches to the DET by Federation have been met with the answer: "The funding is on its way." What was that old line about the cheque being in the mail?

Jennifer Leete is the Deputy President.

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February 2004 contents