Thank you Madam President
IEU Australia applauds the EI Policy Paper on Education.
In particular, the IEU welcomes the commentary in the paper on Improving the Quality of Education and the associated work program outlined in Resolution 1.1.1.
The IEU notes with concern the simplistic and wrong-headed approach by governments around the globe in believing that improving education quality is dependent on ranking teachers, and schools; on punitive teacher management programs; and continued implementation of repeatedly failed performance pay systems.
To cite but one recent piece of research: on Monday 18 July 2011, Monday just passed, the US based RAND Education, in partnership with Vanderbilt University, released the findings of their recent research project with the media release headline: “New York City School-Based Financial Incentives Did Not Improve Student Achievement Or Affect Reported Teaching Practices.”
These performance pay models do not work.
However, we do know what does work. Indeed, Patrick has just spoken about “bringing the answers”.
We know that a model of quality education that recognizes, supports and adequately resources an holistic approach to teaching and learning can and does improve student outcomes and student learning.
Comrade van Leeuwen yesterday spoke of the inextricable link between learning conditions and working conditions.
In this context, a framework for quality education, teaching and learning, must at a minimum:
Build quality teacher capacity
Deliver quality career pathways, and
Enhance quality learning environments
Central to developing and sustaining quality teaching, and therefore quality learning, is the access to quality career pathways that acknowledge and support the complex nature of the work undertaken by the teaching profession.
Essential are such factors as:
An integrated career pathway
Attracting quality applicants
Retaining experienced teachers
Quality training and professional development
A relevant and meaningful framework of standards
Professional remuneration (including getting the base salary rightand recognizing accomplished teachers), and
Supporting and developing leadership
High quality teaching is the responsibility not only of teachers individually and as a profession, but of schools, systems and governments.
The IEU commends the EI Policy Paper on Education and Resolution 1.1.1