Presidential Officers take the stand

by Kerri Carr

Federation's Presidential Officers were questioned over two days in the salaries case before the Industrial Relations Commission.

Federation's case is based on work value and the special case wage fixing principles.

The principal claim is for a 25 per cent increase in rates of salary and allowances for all teachers. Additionally there are ancillary claims relating to the top level of the common incremental salary scale, head teachers in TAFE, year advisers and school counsellors.

Federation President Maree O'Halloran told the Commission that "since 1991 teachers have not been fully compensated for what they are required to do regardless of any amount of money paid to them".

DET counsel tried to separate out "the Vinson 5 per cent" from Federation's 25 per cent claim.

Inquiry into the Provision of Public Education in NSW head Professor Tony Vinson recommended in his findings that teachers be paid an immediate five percent salary increase during the life of the current award. Federation's 2002 Annual Conference had devised a 10+5+5 per cent claim over two years prior to Professor Vinson's recommendation.

When asked whether it was a potential double count, Ms O'Halloran said: "No, because we didn't receive the Vinson 5 per cent during the life of the current award."

Ms O'Halloran spoke about greater work value. She also spoke about addressing the teacher shortage (by retaining young teachers and attracting back those who no longer teach) by offering teachers an attractive salary.

Federation's claim aims to improve the position of teachers at the top of the scale.

Ms O'Halloran said in her affidavit: "Many of these teachers have been at the point for most of their teaching lives. The current pay rates do not reflect their experience and expertise."

She told the Commission that women are more likely to stay at the top of the scale for the rest of their career (rather than being promoted).

"The likelihood of achieving a promotions position is far greater if you are a man than if you are a woman," she said.

"You have a greater chance as a man of being promoted from the pool of men compared to the pool of women."

Ms O'Halloran's affidavit also spoke to how Federation seeks to expand the number of year adviser allowances paid in all high and central schools and seeks an annual allowance for school counsellors which is equivalent in money terms with the allowance for teachers of students with disabilities.

Federation Deputy President Jennifer Leete was questioned extensively about assessment and reporting.

"The gathering of data is something schools have always done to some extent or another. What now occurs is...that there are now greater requirements on them that are imposed by the Department," she told the Commission.

"Teachers say to me that the process of assessment in particular has been so demanding and so complex and teachers are being constantly required to assess students' achievement and in that context say assessment is so demanding that there's no time to teach any more. That is compounded by the fact that the syllabuses are so chock full of content there is so much material that has physically got to be got through, that what they feel they are required to do is to meet this huge burden of delivery," she said.

In her reply affidavit Ms Leete said: "A decade ago the normative testing environment meant that assessment decisions were made about a student's work against a scheme that largely existed in a teacher's head. The current processes, where assessment decisions must be made against very lengthy and detailed externally-provided assessment criteria, is a very different and much more complex process than previously. It is much more directed, more detailed and more comprehensive."

"Completion of ... reports is now far more complex, time consuming and demanding than formal reporting to parents previously was. They require far greater knowledge of the students' individual strengths and achievements as well as weaknesses," she also said in her affidavit.

About annual school reports, Ms Leete said: "It would be fair to say that most schools and teachers and I suspect particularly principals find the current requirements in relation to production of the annual school report as being a very, very significant imposition. I think they despair at the fact that they do hours and hours and hours of work as part of its preparation and that in their heart of hearts they know that only a small number of people read them."

On the suggestion that templates for the annual school report make it quicker and more efficient to produce an annual school report, Ms Leete said: "I would say that what is now imposed on schools is a far more rigid set of requirements and a far more demanding process."

Regarding DET support to implement syllabus change Ms Leete told the Commission: "Syllabuses tend not to come with resources at all. Whenever there is a new syllabus the whole process of assessing the resources that you have in the school and deciding what resources that you need -- all that has to happen."

Ms Leete explained that while teachers have historically had a duty of care, now there is a legislative requirement regarding child protection with a penalty for not meeting those requirements.

Ms Leete's affidavit referred to "the enormity of the task that faced all teachers at all levels in terms of acquiring new skills, knowledge and responsibility relating to teaching and learning, assessment and reporting.

In her affidavit she noted teachers undertake additional work to provide for the safety of students of staff. Issues raised have related to "disabled students, violent and abusive students, poorly maintained buildings and facilities, lack of appropriate personal safety equipment, vandalism and theft of school equipment during break-ins, and dealing with aggressive intruders on school grounds".

Ms Leete also answered questions about the new HSC, VET and training and development.

Her affidavit and reply affidavit also spoke to the issues of pedagogy and curriculum, teacher qualifications, vocational education and training, and how the introduction of information and communications technology competencies into syllabuses has intensified teachers' work.

Federation Senior Vice President Angelo Gavrielatos told the Commission that the "MCEETYA report 2003...suggests there will be shortage of 20,000 to 30,000 teachers by the end of the decade".

He quoted Premier Bob Carr talking about a worldwide teacher shortage and former Education Minister John Watkins talking about a casual teacher shortage.

"There's an acknowledgment that there is a shortage. There are days when kids are not being taught," Mr Gavrielatos said.

He said 30 per cent of teacher graduates were not teaching because it was more lucrative to work elsewhere.

After Mr Gavrielatos suggested improving salaries would attract more teachers, he was asked whether improved salaries would affect the capacity of the private sector to outbid.

"No it will not, but our salaries may be more attractive and therefore the inclination to leave may not be there."

Mr Gavrielatos also spoke about growth of enrolment in public schools of students with disabilities.

He said with respect to low support needs funding there had been, between 2000 and 2002, a 51.3 per cent increase in students identified with low support needs, yet only a 16 per cent increase in funding for those students.

In his reply affidavit, Mr Gavrielatos said integrated students in regular classes in regular schools increased from 1983 students in 1990 to 16,600 in 2002, an increase of 737 per cent.

His affidavit also addressed work value and work intensification arising from students with disabilities.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005