DET staffing proposals unbelievable

Batemans Bay High School take action.

Teachers have expressed disbelief at the Department's proposed changes to the staffing of schools.

By Khyiah Angel

Teachers across the south east region have demonstrated their disgust at the NSW Government's continued refusal to enter into negotiations with Federation about the development of a new and improved staffing agreement.

At least nine schools (so far) have conducted localised stopwork action to protest against the arbitrary imposition of a system of staffing that will severely impact on the ability of schools in rural and remote areas to attract and retain staff.

Batemans Bay High School led the charge with a stopwork meeting after recess expressing a request, via a placard, that the Director-General "Trott-Off! Leave schools to the professionals". Following, Batemans Bay, Narooma High School took stop-work action. Teachers at both Batemans Bay and Narooma High Schools expressed great concern for their rural colleagues who they fear "have been betrayed by a State Government that had assured them of their transfer rights".

Braidwood Central School was the next to take action with 100 per cent out. Teachers at Braidwood reported feeling angry at a government whose Education Minister only 12 months ago cited the staffing agreement as one of the "greatest achievements".

Sixty five teachers at Karabar High School in Queanbeyan walked off the job to carry a resolution condemning the government's actions. Karabar High School also runs the distance education centre and teachers are already aware of impact of the impending teacher shortage as some students undertake distance education because of the unavailability of qualified teachers in subject areas in their local rural schools.

Tumut High School teachers also carried a resolution during their stopwork meeting, urging Federation to continue the fight for "a fair and equitable system of staffing". Tumut High School is a 2-point school and as one teacher pointed out, "though I have been very happy here, I didn't come out here to stay. I want to go home eventually, now I could be stuck."

Three Goulburn primary schools - Bradfordville, Goulburn South and Goulburn East all held stopwork meetings. They added their voices to the growing level of antipathy toward a government that continues to ignore the experience and concern of those who have worked in the public education system their whole careers.

EA Southee Public School in Cootamundra and Jerrabomberra Public School in Queanbeyan also conducted stopwork meetings to express concern for a public education system about to fall victim to the ignorance of a few men that, if the record of their many predecessors is any indication, will not be around long enough to experience the effects in rural or hard to staff schools, of being unable to attract and retain qualified teachers.

Teachers across the south east repeatedly express disbelief at the decisions being made by a Minister and a Director-General who have not had prior experience of public education or the system by which it is delivered.

Khyiah Angel is a Country Organiser.

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Last Modified: 03 Apr 2008