Professional development workshops for new syllabuses

By Jennifer Leete

Federation has sought details from both the Department of Education and Training and the Office of the Board of Studies about provision of professional development courses to support the implementation of the new syllabuses across years 7-10.

During term 1 the Board of Studies conducted briefings for each key learning area (KLA) in each region across the state. Some of these sessions were attended by more than 100 teachers.

Teachers in those KLAs which have a number of syllabuses, in particular, raised concerns with Federation about the inadequate and unsatisfactory nature of these sessions.

The Office of the Board of Studies, in response, was keen to clarify a number of matters. The first was that these briefings were never intended to be the entirety of the courses on the new syllabuses. They were only meant to be briefing sessions and not professional development courses. In addition, they emphasised that the Office of the Board of Studies was conducting these briefings from their current budget and had not been provided with any additional funds for this purpose by the government.

The union then raised the issue with the Department of Education and Training at a meeting with the Director-General Andrew Cappie-Wood and his senior officers. Subsequently, Federation was provided with a list of 380 professional development workshops which will be offered across the state in all year 7-10 subjects. These are scheduled between May and September.

A close examination reveals that in any one specific area teachers of most subjects will find that there is only one workshop appropriate to their needs.

It is unclear whether any further courses will occur. Federation has made it clear that what is currently proposed is inadequate and that the area of integration of information and computer technology competencies alone requires a significant professional development strategy from the Department.

Jennifer Leete is the Deputy President.

For further information

May 2004 contents