Anonymous #406

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #406

Where are you located?

South Australia

What type of area do you live in?

Metropolitan

Are you an education professional?
(e.g. teacher, school leader, learning support assistant, teacher’s aide)

Yes

Which sector do you work in?

Primary

What is your occupation?

Teacher

Elevating the profession

The actions proposed recognise the value teachers bring to students, communities and the economy.

Somewhat disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Teacher pay has not been addressed. To show value to teachers and recognise their commitment to the profession and the hours of time they spend on their work, they should be paid more.
Awards creates competition and comparison and very few teachers will be shown value through these processes.
The damage has already been done by media, the teacher profession has long been criticised by the media.

Improving teacher supply

The actions proposed will be effective in increasing the number of students entering ITE, number of students completing ITE and the number of teachers staying in and/or returning to the profession.

Strongly disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Again, teacher pay has not been addressed. The next generation of young people are not interested in engaging in a career that requires 4 years of study, countless hours of preparation and marking, to be paid at the current wage. There are too many other careers that require significantly less out of hours commitment and that receive more pay. Money talks.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

The actions proposed will ensure initial teacher education supports teacher supply and quality.

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Any efforts to improve intake and retention are warranted and positive steps towards the future of education.

Maximising the time to teach

The actions proposed will improve retention and free up teachers to focus on teaching and collaboration.

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Increasing planning and collaboration time is money well spent. My concern is equity across schools. All teachers, no matter their location and school should be entitled to the same amount of time. Staff in smaller schools should not be penalised for the fact they have chosen to work in a smaller school. Sometimes their workload is more than that of a teacher in a larger school due to fewer staff.

Better understanding future teacher workforce needs

How effective are the proposed actions in better understanding future teacher workforce needs, including the number of teachers required?

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Better career pathways to support and retain teachers in the profession

The proposed actions will improve career pathways, including through streamlining the process for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) accreditation, and providing better professional support for teachers to retain them in the profession.

Somewhat disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Teacher pay has not been addressed. To show value to teachers and recognise their commitment to the profession and the hours of time they spend on their work, they should be all be paid more.
HALT processes are too arduous. They require a significant amount of time and commitment that teachers are opting out of because they are already time poor and overworked. There are many teachers who are highly accomplished or lead teachers who have chosen not to engage in this process due to the investment required. Consider alternate processes - staff within a school and including principals know very well who the HAT teachers are in their school. Too many go unrecognised.