Page 3374 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 21 October 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MS BURCH: I thank Mr Doszpot for his question. The survey that Mr Doszpot is referring to has, I think, for ACT results put non-government and government school teachers in the same category. They do show an above national average. That is a self-reported survey by teachers from government schools, independent schools and Catholic schools.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, how many hours do ACT public school teachers work on average, not just face-to-face teaching hours?
MS BURCH: I do not have that detail in front of me, but, as I have stated before, ACT teachers in public schools have the lowest face-to-face teaching hours compared to any of their counterparts in other states and territories. There certainly is an interest, and it has been raised by teachers, in reducing the level of admin and extra work that may be put upon them over different programs and policy areas over time. I think that their face-to-face teaching hours are fine and reasonable at the moment, but certainly we would look, through the directorate, at any way to reduce any admin workload attached to different areas of their work, and that is what the directorate will do with the teaching staff.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, why do you believe that teacher workload in the ACT is on par with other states, given the indication that the survey points to?
MS BURCH: I think you need to separate that the survey today for ACT put government and non-government teachers in the same survey results. As I have said, the face-to-face teaching hours for the ACT are the lowest. That is not the only work that teachers do; they do other bits and pieces that they refer to in this survey as school-related activity. I do not know what the definition for school-related activity is, but the survey results were for all teachers.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, why do you believe that a 50-hour week is a reasonable workload for teachers in the ACT?
MS BURCH: I have never said that it was, and I think he is putting words in my mouth.
ACT public service—front-line staff
MR SMYTH: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, the recently released state of the service report 2014 shows that the ACT public service grew by more than 530 people last year, or by three per cent. There was an actual drop in the number of front-line staff, including fire brigade officers, bus operators and legal support staff. There was no growth in the number of ambulance officers or disability
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video