Unresolved issues about tutorial vouchers scheme

By Sally Edsall

Federation has serious concerns about the arrangements for the implementation of the Federal Government's "Tutorial Vouchers Initiative".

School principals and staff are urged to think through the implications very closely.

The Department of Education and Training (DET) is the broker for the Federal Government's program. DET is also the employer of all the tutors.

Federation views this Federal Government "initiative" as yet another political attack on public education and teachers. The Federal Government refused to use its funding to support credible and tested literacy programs in schools.

In setting up this scheme DET has sought expressions of interest from schools to act as centres where the outside-school individual tuition will take place.

Federation's main concerns are about duty of care, child protection, security and lock-up of school sites, and use of school resources.

Duty of care

Tuition is to take place on school sites either before or after school. All tuition is to finish by two hours after the end of the school day.

However, parents are to be sent a list of potential tutors, and will choose their tutor from that list. This means that many students will be attending school sites where they are not normally students, or will be waiting in playgrounds for their tutor's arrival, if the tutor does not work at the school where tuition will take place.

This means that at both ends of the school day it is possible that there will be students on school premises who may or may not be students at the school.

DET has not been able to satisfactorily answer Federation's concerns about responsibility for those students.

Any reference to documentation relating to the Care and Supervision of Students is entirely outside the 1998 Terms of Settlement between the NSW Department of Education and Training and the NSW Teachers Federation on the Care and Supervision of Students.

Child protection

Under the Federal Government's terms, all tuition must be provided one tutor: one student. Teachers engaged as tutors, whether from the public system or not, will be subject to the DET's procedures around complaints, allegations and child protection.

It is entirely unclear as to what is the role of the principal of the host school.

DET has said that there must be at least two tutorial sessions taking place in the same space. That is the sole means of protection for teachers.

The Federal Government has relaxed its initial requirement that parents also be in attendance at the tutorial session.

School security

Tutorial sessions are to take place before or after school.

Responsibility for ensuring that the school is secure outside school hours is that of the principal. When Federation raised the issue DET's response was that it must be "worked out between the principal and staff". It is Federation's view that this adds to the workload of school staff.

School resources

A memo faxed to schools in the Riverina region makes reference to the use of school resources, for example photocopiers, reading texts and so on, being entirely at the discretion of the school principal. This again inappropriately places the onus on the principal. There is no additional funding available to schools to enable this. (Individual tutors can claim $50 from the Federal Government for teaching resources).

Cleaning

If any rearrangements are necessary with respect to cleaning the school, the principal is responsible for negotiating those with the contractor.

Student transport

Parents are responsible for transport of students to and from tutorial sessions. There may be requests from parents for schools to make arrangements. These must be resisted.

Application forms for parents

The process for parents to apply for funding is completion of a very lengthy and complex form from the Federal Department of Education Science and Training. Principals and teachers may well be prevailed upon to assist with the application process. It is available only in English. There is a second form from the broker and provider, the DET, available in 16 community languages.

Teachers considering employment as Tutors

Payment is based on nine hours of face-to-face tuition (which takes place as twelve 45-minute sessions), liaison before and after sessions, meeting administrative requirements, briefing and training.

There is no additional payment for attendance at briefings and training.

Potential tutors should seek individual financial advice about the impact of earnings on their personal taxation obligations.

Sally Edsall is the relieving Editor.

Carefully consider involvement

li>All members are asked to carefully consider the implications of involvement in this "initiative".
• There are no resources available to the school for offering itself as a tutorial centre.
• Despite assurances from the DET to the contrary, involvement in this "initiative" will create additional work for the principal and other staff of schools involved.

For further information

June 2005 contents