Defer action on DET enrolment forms

By Jennifer Leete

Schools should take no action on distribution and data collection using new school enrolment forms.

Although the new forms were first distributed by the Department of Education and Training (DET) in October 2004 there was no consultation with Federation about workload implications or the nature of the data to be collected.

DET now proposes to use the forms to assist in meeting funding agreements with the Commonwealth about reporting statewide test results according to various student background information. This includes gender, Aboriginality, language, background and socio-economic indicators such as parental education and occupation.

The Public Service Association advised its members in school administrative support positions not to use the 2004 forms. This was because the Public Service Association was negotiating changes to the forms and had sought an extension of the time allowed for data input.

DET has now advised that the new date for data input to be completed by is October 24. They have also made some changes to the enrolment form following discussions with the Public Service Association.

On July 21 DET sent a memorandum to principals advising of these changes. That same memo asked primary schools to distribute the enrolment forms to students in years 3 and 5 as well as year 7 students who had not previously completed the 2004 form. This is of course despite the fact that most of those students have been enrolled for quite some time.

The DET memo requires schools to purchase the forms and gives details of how schools can buy them.

In addition, a number of schools have reported parents raising concerns about what they consider to be the intrusive nature of some of the information sought on the forms.

Federation will be raising, with the Director-General, its objections to the cost of this exercise being passed on to schools as well as concerns about the workload issues involved.

In the meantime, all schools are advised to take no further action on distribution of the forms or collection of the data.

Jennifer Leete is the Deputy President.

For further information

August 2005 contents