❓ Question regarding the retention of preprimary staff following changes to the school starting age. The Minister assures that permanent teachers will not lose their jobs but acknowledges potential difficulties due to previous government commitments.
AnsweredQoN 879Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PREPRIMARY EDUCATION, STAFF
(1) Is it true that the minister has withdrawn his commitment to the Western Australian State School Teachers Union that all existing 2001 primary staff allocated to preprimary be retained in 2002? (2) What mechanisms or strategies is the minister proposing to guarantee the success of the change to the starting age initiative if the levels of primary school and preprimary year 1 support staff are not maintained? Hon G.T. GIFFARD
(1) Is it true that the minister has withdrawn his commitment to the Western Australian State School Teachers Union that all existing 2001 primary staff allocated to preprimary be retained in 2002? (2) What mechanisms or strategies is the minister proposing to guarantee the success of the change to the starting age initiative if the levels of primary school and preprimary year 1 support staff are not maintained? Hon G.T. GIFFARD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Minister for Education has made a commitment that no permanent teacher in a substantive position will lose his job as a result of the change to the school starting age and the consequent entry of the half cohort into preprimary in 2002. It would be preferable if all teachers could be retained. However, this may not be possible due to unfunded commitments made by the previous Government. Hon B.M. Scott: How long will you be saying that for? Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
(2) What mechanisms or strategies is the minister proposing to guarantee the success of the change to the starting age initiative if the levels of primary school and preprimary year 1 support staff are not maintained? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Minister for Education has made a commitment that no permanent teacher in a substantive position will lose his job as a result of the change to the school starting age and the consequent entry of the half cohort into preprimary in 2002. It would be preferable if all teachers could be retained. However, this may not be possible due to unfunded commitments made by the previous Government. Hon B.M. Scott: How long will you be saying that for? Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Minister for Education has made a commitment that no permanent teacher in a substantive position will lose his job as a result of the change to the school starting age and the consequent entry of the half cohort into preprimary in 2002. It would be preferable if all teachers could be retained. However, this may not be possible due to unfunded commitments made by the previous Government. Hon B.M. Scott: How long will you be saying that for? Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Minister for Education has made a commitment that no permanent teacher in a substantive position will lose his job as a result of the change to the school starting age and the consequent entry of the half cohort into preprimary in 2002. It would be preferable if all teachers could be retained. However, this may not be possible due to unfunded commitments made by the previous Government. Hon B.M. Scott: How long will you be saying that for? Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
(1) The Minister for Education has made a commitment that no permanent teacher in a substantive position will lose his job as a result of the change to the school starting age and the consequent entry of the half cohort into preprimary in 2002. It would be preferable if all teachers could be retained. However, this may not be possible due to unfunded commitments made by the previous Government. Hon B.M. Scott: How long will you be saying that for? Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
Hon B.M. Scott: How long will you be saying that for? Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
(2) What mechanisms or strategies is the minister proposing to guarantee the success of the change to the starting age initiative if the levels of primary school and preprimary year 1 support staff are not maintained? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Minister for Education has made a commitment that no permanent teacher in a substantive position will lose his job as a result of the change to the school starting age and the consequent entry of the half cohort into preprimary in 2002. It would be preferable if all teachers could be retained. However, this may not be possible due to unfunded commitments made by the previous Government. Hon B.M. Scott: How long will you be saying that for? Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Minister for Education has made a commitment that no permanent teacher in a substantive position will lose his job as a result of the change to the school starting age and the consequent entry of the half cohort into preprimary in 2002. It would be preferable if all teachers could be retained. However, this may not be possible due to unfunded commitments made by the previous Government. Hon B.M. Scott: How long will you be saying that for? Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Minister for Education has made a commitment that no permanent teacher in a substantive position will lose his job as a result of the change to the school starting age and the consequent entry of the half cohort into preprimary in 2002. It would be preferable if all teachers could be retained. However, this may not be possible due to unfunded commitments made by the previous Government. Hon B.M. Scott: How long will you be saying that for? Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
(1) The Minister for Education has made a commitment that no permanent teacher in a substantive position will lose his job as a result of the change to the school starting age and the consequent entry of the half cohort into preprimary in 2002. It would be preferable if all teachers could be retained. However, this may not be possible due to unfunded commitments made by the previous Government. Hon B.M. Scott: How long will you be saying that for? Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
Hon B.M. Scott: How long will you be saying that for? Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
Hon G.T. GIFFARD: I am trying to answer the question. Negotiation between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, regarding temporary teachers who may be displaced due to the half cohort of students in 2002, will continue. (2) The initiative to change the school entry age will be supported by continuing to staff government schools according to the K-12 staffing formula. The K-12 staffing formula allocates staff to schools on the basis of the number of students enrolled at that school. The K-12 staffing formula has been adjusted in 2001 to allow for the increase in class contact time for kindergarten children, from two to four half days per week, and will be adjusted again for 2002 to take account of the expansion of preprimary programs from four to five full days per week. A significant professional development program has been available to schools through district office personnel during the past two years to assist schools with multi-age classes. This initiative will continue in 2002.
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