Page 1542 - Week 05 - Thursday, 11 April 2013
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degree of compliance with the regulatory requirements of the legislation and a strong commitment from ACT principals and other stakeholders to the opportunities provided for cross-sectoral professional engagement.
The TQI has focused on an integrated approach to the improvement of teacher quality against professional standards. This ACT cross-sectoral approach to standards implementation has been recognised as best practice at a national level and is guiding the development of national standards processes.
The principals and governance bodies of both government and non-government schools know that the professional registration of teachers is not simply a regulatory exercise but an opportunity to learn from each other and provide the best experience and learning outcomes for all Canberra students regardless of the school which they attend.
I would like to pay recognition to the great crew out at TQI, because as I move across schools, I have unanimous support for the work that they do, both from principals of government schools and from the Catholic and independent schools. So well done to the crew at TQI.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, what is the retention rate of newly qualified teachers in the ACT in the early years of their career, and how does this compare with other jurisdictions?
MS BURCH: As I understand it, I think we have a good retention rate of teachers here, and I think it is borne out by the programs that we have here to support. We have got a Teacher Quality Institute that has a clear focus on providing cross-sectoral support to teachers. We have strong support to professional development of our teachers here. As I understand—and I cannot talk for the Catholic or the independent systems—we have a very strong education system here that no doubt is reflected—
Mr Wall: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, it was a very simple question. What is the retention rate of newly qualified teachers in the ACT and the comparison to other jurisdictions? The minister has failed to articulate what that might be.
MADAM SPEAKER: Minister Burch, standing orders require you to be directly relevant. Could you come to the answer to the question.
MS BURCH: As I said in my comments, I do not have that information in front of me, and I am not quite sure if Mr Wall is asking me to refer to the independents or the Catholics as well. But I think it is important that we pay attention to and recognise the work that we do here across the sectors to support our teachers.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr Bourke has the floor.
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