Recognising and rewarding quality teaching

The federal Labor Party's proposals about rewarding quality teaching in public schools are clearly different to the Federal Government's 'performance pay' proposals, writes ANGELO GAVRIELATOS.

On October 27 the federal Labor Party released its policy Teaching Standards: Recognising and rewarding quality teaching in public schools.

Despite unfortunate media portrayal on the day of its release, this policy stands in contrast to the "performance pay" announcements made by Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop earlier this year.

The federal Labor Party's proposal is built around the notion of recognising and rewarding quality teaching in public schools through a process of assessing teachers against standards. It will be accompanied by "significantly increased funding in public schools".

It proposes a payment of about an additional $10,000 per annum for teachers who are deemed to meet the standards for "highly accomplished" teaching paid over and above the current incremental scale. There is no stated quota limiting the number of teachers who could be assessed and deemed eligible. The package would be negotiated with the states and territories as part of a national compact of schooling. It is to be implemented through negotiated wages or collective agreements.

Furthermore the proposal announced by the Federal Labor Party gives a commitment to:

• provide Commonwealth professional development funding;
• provide additional funding to increase levels of experience and leadership density in targeted difficult to staff schools;
• consider reductions of 'forgiveness' of HECS for graduates who become teachers in areas of teacher shortage; and
• maintain and protect the common incremental scale for all teachers. While the policy contains many positive proposals clearly there is a need for further clarification and detailed negotiations.

On July 10 the Australian reported: "Ms Bishop said teachers were one of the only professions not accountable for their performance and it was 'high time' they were held responsible for their students' achievements." She proceeded to resurrect the notion of a form of performance pay which could take the form of an Australian Workplace Agreement (individual contract) paying teachers on the basis of student results. She proceeded to say that this form of performance pay would form part of the next round of funding negotiations with the states and territories.

Angelo Gavrielatos is the Deputy President.

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