27 February 2007
What is Needed is Genuine Commitment from the Federal Government. The House of Representatives Teacher Education Report confirms the findings of previous studies and in particular the need to substantial government support or pre-service training and early career induction. What is needed now is a genuine commitment from the Federal Government
“The House of Representatives Education Committee report on Teacher Education released yesterday once again confirms many of the failings of the federal government and its continuing stalling of the implementation of key recommendations from earlier reports” said IEU Federal Secretary Lynne Rolley.
“There have been major inquiries into teacher education over the past 25 years with recommendations similar to those in this one. After ten years in government, teachers and the community will have every right to be concerned that previous recommendations around teacher education, support for teacher practicum, resourcing ongoing professional development and a genuine commitment to the development of beginning teachers have all been ignored by this federal government,” she said.
“Teaching is a demanding profession that requires high quality candidates, high quality pre-service training and the highest possible quality induction and mentoring programs for teachers commencing their career” said Ms Rolley
“The evidence is clear that the failure to support teachers in their early career years has a dramatic effect on the likelihood of those teachers being retained in the profession” she said.
“Whilst welcoming the recommendation for a commitment by the federal government of 10% of the cost of a beginning teacher’s salary, this amount will fall well short of the actual cost of delivering the 20% load reduction plus structured professional development plus time release for the mentor to undertake their important role” said Ms Rolley
“If we are serious about a commitment to supporting beginning teachers as proposed in the report, then the federal government must fund the program accordingly and 10% of a beginning teacher’s salary does not meet the real costs.”
“Further, the idea that a beginning teacher, carrying a large HECS debt, with all the pressures and challenges of their new career should have to make a ‘co-contribution’ is a nonsense”
“The Independent Education Union calls on the federal government to put aside its continuing hostility and exclusionary practices with respect to the teacher unions and engage in genuine dialogue about the recommendations in the report” said Ms Rolley
Contact details
Lynne Rolley
Federal Secretary
Ph: 03 9254 1830
Fax: 03 9254 1835
ieu@ieu.org.au