Page 2815 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 17 September 2014
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level of teachers’ workload, so to speak, we have the lowest in any state or territory, the lowest face-to-face teaching hours in the country—here in the ACT, in our government schools.
Mr Doszpot: So 98 per cent of teachers are wrong?
MS BURCH: Mr Doszpot, these are the facts. These may not be found in a union survey but these are the facts. We have the lowest student ratio number in any state or territory. Again, I think that teachers, respectfully, do have, and I think they highly regard the fact that they have, the lowest face-to-face teaching hours in any jurisdiction. In response to the comment on paperwork, the advice I have is that—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order Mr Hanson! I cannot hear Minister Burch because of your conversation with Mr Barr.
MS BURCH: the AEU has publicly identified four administrative tasks undertaken by teachers. One of the tasks is individual learning plans for students with an identified learning need. The individual learning plans are developed each semester, with input from parents and specialist teachers. I believe that that is not an administrative function; that is a core function of a teacher—an individual learning plan. The other administrative tasks include recruitment panels, which is completely and absolutely voluntary for teachers to participate in, and the fortnightly absence record form which was introduced a number of years ago. It is my advice that this task takes approximately one to three minutes each fortnight.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, how many hours per year are set aside for teacher professional development, given that 79 per cent of teachers say that they do not have enough time to engage in collaborative professional learning?
MS BURCH: Our teachers’ employment arrangements allow for good professional development opportunities, whether that be attendance at conferences within Canberra or interstate, whether it is attendance at activities with the TQI, whether that is indeed a professional development activity that is conducted within the schools. Teachers, as Mr Doszpot knows, are required to produce a number of hours each year for professional development to maintain their teacher registration. This survey represents to me their positioning for their EBA negotiations. I will see it as that. Teachers are supported and graduate teachers have the lowest teacher—
Mr Doszpot: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Could I request that the minister answer the question that was asked?
MADAM SPEAKER: What was the question that was asked? The question that was asked was about the number of hours of professional development available to each—
Mr Doszpot: I am quite happy to read it out again. Can I read it out again?
MADAM SPEAKER: Yes.
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