❓ Question addresses the impact of a smaller student cohort on high school teacher numbers, potential teacher shortages, and support for smaller schools. The Minister's response acknowledges the reduction in teacher numbers due to the smaller cohort but denies dismissals, highlights support for smaller schools, and blames the previous government for lack of planning regarding future teacher shortages.
AnsweredQoN 935Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS — NUMBER REDUCTION
I refer to the impact of the half-cohort and to the minister’s previous statement that about 500 fewer government high school teachers will be required next year. (1) Is it still the case that 500 fixed-term high school teachers will be dismissed at the end of the year? (2) Has the minister made any changes at all to teacher-pupil ratios for next year to provide assistance to smaller high schools that will struggle to maintain the same range of subjects next year; and, if not, why not? (3) Is it still the case that we can expect a teacher shortage in as little as two years; and, if so, why would the minister be getting rid of so many teachers now? Dr E. CONSTABLE
I refer to the impact of the half-cohort and to the minister’s previous statement that about 500 fewer government high school teachers will be required next year. (1) Is it still the case that 500 fixed-term high school teachers will be dismissed at the end of the year? (2) Has the minister made any changes at all to teacher-pupil ratios for next year to provide assistance to smaller high schools that will struggle to maintain the same range of subjects next year; and, if not, why not? (3) Is it still the case that we can expect a teacher shortage in as little as two years; and, if so, why would the minister be getting rid of so many teachers now? Dr E. CONSTABLE
AnswerView source ↗
I am very pleased the member has asked these questions, some of which she has asked before, because it gives me the opportunity to answer them again. (1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
(1) Is it still the case that 500 fixed-term high school teachers will be dismissed at the end of the year? (2) Has the minister made any changes at all to teacher-pupil ratios for next year to provide assistance to smaller high schools that will struggle to maintain the same range of subjects next year; and, if not, why not? (3) Is it still the case that we can expect a teacher shortage in as little as two years; and, if so, why would the minister be getting rid of so many teachers now? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I am very pleased the member has asked these questions, some of which she has asked before, because it gives me the opportunity to answer them again. (1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
(2) Has the minister made any changes at all to teacher-pupil ratios for next year to provide assistance to smaller high schools that will struggle to maintain the same range of subjects next year; and, if not, why not? (3) Is it still the case that we can expect a teacher shortage in as little as two years; and, if so, why would the minister be getting rid of so many teachers now? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I am very pleased the member has asked these questions, some of which she has asked before, because it gives me the opportunity to answer them again. (1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
(3) Is it still the case that we can expect a teacher shortage in as little as two years; and, if so, why would the minister be getting rid of so many teachers now? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I am very pleased the member has asked these questions, some of which she has asked before, because it gives me the opportunity to answer them again. (1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I am very pleased the member has asked these questions, some of which she has asked before, because it gives me the opportunity to answer them again. (1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
I am very pleased the member has asked these questions, some of which she has asked before, because it gives me the opportunity to answer them again. (1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
(1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
(1) Is it still the case that 500 fixed-term high school teachers will be dismissed at the end of the year? (2) Has the minister made any changes at all to teacher-pupil ratios for next year to provide assistance to smaller high schools that will struggle to maintain the same range of subjects next year; and, if not, why not? (3) Is it still the case that we can expect a teacher shortage in as little as two years; and, if so, why would the minister be getting rid of so many teachers now? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I am very pleased the member has asked these questions, some of which she has asked before, because it gives me the opportunity to answer them again. (1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
(2) Has the minister made any changes at all to teacher-pupil ratios for next year to provide assistance to smaller high schools that will struggle to maintain the same range of subjects next year; and, if not, why not? (3) Is it still the case that we can expect a teacher shortage in as little as two years; and, if so, why would the minister be getting rid of so many teachers now? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I am very pleased the member has asked these questions, some of which she has asked before, because it gives me the opportunity to answer them again. (1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
(3) Is it still the case that we can expect a teacher shortage in as little as two years; and, if so, why would the minister be getting rid of so many teachers now? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I am very pleased the member has asked these questions, some of which she has asked before, because it gives me the opportunity to answer them again. (1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I am very pleased the member has asked these questions, some of which she has asked before, because it gives me the opportunity to answer them again. (1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
I am very pleased the member has asked these questions, some of which she has asked before, because it gives me the opportunity to answer them again. (1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
(1) We have known for several years—nine years, I think—that when the half-cohort reached high school there would be a need for fewer teachers than we currently have. If we take 10 per cent of the students out of high schools, then we will need fewer teachers. That equates to about 500 teachers in secondary schools. As I have said before, the department and previous governments have handled this well through primary school. I have no doubt that when the half-cohort gets to high school next year, those students will be equally well managed. There are about 500 fixed-term teachers involved, and no-one is going to be dismissed, which is the word the member for Midland used. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : No permanent teachers will lose their job. Some teachers on contract will not have their contracts renewed. This is no different from any other year; there has been no change to the way people are employed. There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
There has been a lot of work done on looking at smaller schools and at their pupil-teacher ratio needs. Indeed, extra funding will be available for those schools that have small numbers of students and require extra staffing. That has been worked out on a case-by-case basis. The rule of thumb is roundabout 600 or 700 students in a high school; at about that point extra full-time equivalents will be required, and a number of schools around the 600 or 700-student mark or below will get extra staffing to cope with the half-cohort. On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
On the third part of the member’s question, it has been known for some time that a teacher shortage is coming in Western Australia; about 2013 or 2014 is when the major impact of that shortage will hit. The member asked why, because of that, we were not going to keep on the 500 teachers that she referred to. One of the reasons that cannot happen is that the member’s government did not have any money in the forward estimates for such a purpose. The cost of that would be — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : He says our forward estimates count for nothing; yours are the ones that count! Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : They obviously count for nothing in this case because there was no funding or planning for the half-cohort! It was a lack of planning on the previous government’s part. A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
A lot of work has gone into planning for next year. Schools are being looked at on a case-by-case basis, and many of the 500 teachers that the member referred to may well have employment next year — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : — especially in areas like mathematics, science, and design and technology, because we know that there is a shortage of teachers in those specialties.
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