Concerns abound over national institute

Brendan Nelson is rushing to establish the proposed National Institute for Quality Teaching and School Leadership, writes WENDY CURRIE.

Last year Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson announced his intention to establish a National Institute for Quality Teaching and School Leadership (NIQTSL) managed for the profession by the profession. A consortium that included the Allen Consulting Group was commissioned to undertake consultation and prepare an Implementation Strategy Report. This report to Dr Nelson has now been made public. The proposed vision and functions in the report have been endorsed by Dr Nelson, but the report also includes proposals about the mode of operation, governance, corporate structure, location, performance indicators and funding. Consultation in preparation for this report was a sham, occurring during late December and early January, with the result that the interest groups consulted had no opportunity to consult with their constituencies. The pace and unsatisfactory nature of the consultation was driven by Dr Nelson's announcement that the NIQTSL was to begin operating in April 2004.

The report recommends functions relating to professional standards and accreditation for leadership and classroom teaching; professional learning and classroom teaching; research and communication; and promotion of the profession.

These proposals contain internal subdivisions divided into short and long term goals, some of which have regulatory aspects.

The report proposed a phased implementation, with an interim board to be appointed in mid March to April, organisational aspects to be finalised between May 2004 and June 2005, and the establishment of a permanent board by July 2005.

Implementation is behind schedule.

The major question of the governance structures is glossed over. The report proposes that the Federal Minister appoint an interim chair and chief executive officer, with no condition that these people are, or ever were, teachers. It makes no recommendation about how the interim board might be appointed, nor is it specific about the structure of the future permanent board.

The report therefore steers clear of making specific recommendations about the most contentious aspect of the establishment of a NIQTSL.

It does, however, refer to the potential for key groups and individuals to nominate people to the board, to an advisory council, standing committees and taskforces and an annual conference.

Consideration of a possible corporate structure led the authors of the report to note the tensions between ownership by the profession "while meeting the accountability requirements associated with the use of government funding".

It is this very aspect that is likely to cause contention in the final analysis, that is, who controls the institute, the teaching profession or the Government.

Last year the Federal Government earmarked $10 million from the Quality Teaching Program budget for the establishment of the NIQTSL, and it has been suggested that they will direct all of the Quality Teaching Program funds to the NIQTSL in the future. These funds are currently directed to professional development activities via state/territory departments. The report makes no clear cut recommendation about how the NIQTSL might be funded in the future.

As the report itself recognises, optimism among those consulted about the NIQTSL is constrained by issues in the proposal including duplication of activities, implied regulatory functions, relationship with employing authorities, conflict with unions and, overarchingly, governance.

There may well be a place for a national body dedicated to professional knowledge and practice. However its purpose and success will depend to a large extent on whether it truly is a body managed for the profession by the profession, or whether it is no more than a quasi-government body with regulatory functions.

The full report is available at www.allenconsult.com.au.

The NIQTSL should not be confused with the proposed NSW Institute of Teachers.

Wendy Currie is a Research Officer.

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May 2004 contents