❓ Dr. Buti questions the Premier about potential job losses for temporary teachers due to education cuts. The Premier responds that the total number of teachers will remain at 21,000 FTE, suggesting most contract teachers will retain their jobs, though some may need to relocate.
AnsweredQoN 496Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — CONTRACT S
496. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Premier:
I refer to comments made by the
director general of the Department of Education, Sharyn O'Neill, that
some temporary teachers on short-term contracts might not be re-employed as a
result of the government's education cuts, which comments have been
reiterated by the Minister for Education.
(1) How many of these contract
teachers will lose their jobs?
(2) When will the
teachers affected by these job losses be made aware that their contracts will
not be renewed?
496. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Premier:
I refer to comments made by the
director general of the Department of Education, Sharyn O'Neill, that
some temporary teachers on short-term contracts might not be re-employed as a
result of the government's education cuts, which comments have been
reiterated by the Minister for Education.
(1) How many of these contract
teachers will lose their jobs?
(2) When will the
teachers affected by these job losses be made aware that their contracts will
not be renewed?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
would have thought that the member for Armadale would have listened to my
previous answer when I said that the number of teachers will stay at the
current level of 21 000.
Dr
A.D. Buti : I'm talking about the temporary teachers.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. The number of teachers in
the state school system will stay at 21 000 full-time equivalents for 2014.
Mr
D.J. Kelly : Twenty-one thousand what?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There are 21 000 FTEs currently.
Mr
D.J. Kelly : Exactly.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
That is the approximate number of employees; there will be approximately the
same number next year. A significant number of contract teachers are always
employed. I would think that most of those teachers would retain their
position.
Mr M. McGowan :
Most?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Listen to the answer, please. It may well be that, as the FTEs are
redistributed, the contracts of some of those contract teachers may not
continue at the school they are currently at. Some will possibly lose their
jobs, but I would think that the vast majority of contract teachers will retain
their jobs, particularly if they are willing to accept a contract of employment
at another school. I add the point that, within a workforce of 21 000 FTEs—in
reality, probably well over 25 000 people—there is a natural turnover
of up to 1 000 teachers a year leaving the profession through retirement or
moving interstate. Within that churn, if you like, of 1 000 teachers, I would
expect those contract employees to keep their jobs. It might not be at the
school they are at now; for some of them it will be at another school. For new
graduates, it may be a slightly more difficult year in which to get employment,
but hundreds of them will be employed next year in the state school system just
because of that churn of 1 000 teachers leaving every year.
would have thought that the member for Armadale would have listened to my
previous answer when I said that the number of teachers will stay at the
current level of 21 000.
Dr
A.D. Buti : I'm talking about the temporary teachers.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. The number of teachers in
the state school system will stay at 21 000 full-time equivalents for 2014.
Mr
D.J. Kelly : Twenty-one thousand what?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There are 21 000 FTEs currently.
Mr
D.J. Kelly : Exactly.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
That is the approximate number of employees; there will be approximately the
same number next year. A significant number of contract teachers are always
employed. I would think that most of those teachers would retain their
position.
Mr M. McGowan :
Most?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Listen to the answer, please. It may well be that, as the FTEs are
redistributed, the contracts of some of those contract teachers may not
continue at the school they are currently at. Some will possibly lose their
jobs, but I would think that the vast majority of contract teachers will retain
their jobs, particularly if they are willing to accept a contract of employment
at another school. I add the point that, within a workforce of 21 000 FTEs—in
reality, probably well over 25 000 people—there is a natural turnover
of up to 1 000 teachers a year leaving the profession through retirement or
moving interstate. Within that churn, if you like, of 1 000 teachers, I would
expect those contract employees to keep their jobs. It might not be at the
school they are at now; for some of them it will be at another school. For new
graduates, it may be a slightly more difficult year in which to get employment,
but hundreds of them will be employed next year in the state school system just
because of that churn of 1 000 teachers leaving every year.
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