The Minister for Education outlines measures to facilitate the conversion of surplus high school teachers to primary school positions, including an expression of interest process and a training program, with a focus on regional areas.

AnsweredQoN 666Legislative Assembly
Asked
9 September 2009
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS — TEACHING POSITIONS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS
I refer to the minister’s claim that some surplus-to-formula high school teachers displaced because of the half cohort would be able to convert to take up teaching positions in primary schools. (1) What measures has the minister put in place to enable this to happen? (2) How successful does the minister think it will be? Dr E. CONSTABLE

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(2) Indeed, we have asked for expressions of interest from teachers in secondary schools to see whether they are interested in converting to primary school teaching. I cannot remember the exact number, but upwards of 200 expressions of interest have been received from teachers. During the school holidays a program will be put in place for teachers wishing to take up that offer. I understand that a large number of teachers want to do that. There is an issue relating to teachers in regional areas, and we are considering the possibility of going to regional areas to provide the program for teachers who wish to make the conversion from secondary to primary teaching. There has been a large uptake to this point, and I expect that more teachers will consider it as a viable option. It is very gratifying to see that teachers in the secondary system want to move into primary teaching, particularly upper primary teaching. Teachers with specific interests in subject areas such as science, English and mathematics will provide great resources to primary schools if they make that move from secondary to primary.
(1) What measures has the minister put in place to enable this to happen? (2) How successful does the minister think it will be? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(2) Indeed, we have asked for expressions of interest from teachers in secondary schools to see whether they are interested in converting to primary school teaching. I cannot remember the exact number, but upwards of 200 expressions of interest have been received from teachers. During the school holidays a program will be put in place for teachers wishing to take up that offer. I understand that a large number of teachers want to do that. There is an issue relating to teachers in regional areas, and we are considering the possibility of going to regional areas to provide the program for teachers who wish to make the conversion from secondary to primary teaching. There has been a large uptake to this point, and I expect that more teachers will consider it as a viable option. It is very gratifying to see that teachers in the secondary system want to move into primary teaching, particularly upper primary teaching. Teachers with specific interests in subject areas such as science, English and mathematics will provide great resources to primary schools if they make that move from secondary to primary.
(2) How successful does the minister think it will be? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(2) Indeed, we have asked for expressions of interest from teachers in secondary schools to see whether they are interested in converting to primary school teaching. I cannot remember the exact number, but upwards of 200 expressions of interest have been received from teachers. During the school holidays a program will be put in place for teachers wishing to take up that offer. I understand that a large number of teachers want to do that. There is an issue relating to teachers in regional areas, and we are considering the possibility of going to regional areas to provide the program for teachers who wish to make the conversion from secondary to primary teaching. There has been a large uptake to this point, and I expect that more teachers will consider it as a viable option. It is very gratifying to see that teachers in the secondary system want to move into primary teaching, particularly upper primary teaching. Teachers with specific interests in subject areas such as science, English and mathematics will provide great resources to primary schools if they make that move from secondary to primary.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(2) Indeed, we have asked for expressions of interest from teachers in secondary schools to see whether they are interested in converting to primary school teaching. I cannot remember the exact number, but upwards of 200 expressions of interest have been received from teachers. During the school holidays a program will be put in place for teachers wishing to take up that offer. I understand that a large number of teachers want to do that. There is an issue relating to teachers in regional areas, and we are considering the possibility of going to regional areas to provide the program for teachers who wish to make the conversion from secondary to primary teaching. There has been a large uptake to this point, and I expect that more teachers will consider it as a viable option. It is very gratifying to see that teachers in the secondary system want to move into primary teaching, particularly upper primary teaching. Teachers with specific interests in subject areas such as science, English and mathematics will provide great resources to primary schools if they make that move from secondary to primary.
(1)-(2) Indeed, we have asked for expressions of interest from teachers in secondary schools to see whether they are interested in converting to primary school teaching. I cannot remember the exact number, but upwards of 200 expressions of interest have been received from teachers. During the school holidays a program will be put in place for teachers wishing to take up that offer. I understand that a large number of teachers want to do that. There is an issue relating to teachers in regional areas, and we are considering the possibility of going to regional areas to provide the program for teachers who wish to make the conversion from secondary to primary teaching. There has been a large uptake to this point, and I expect that more teachers will consider it as a viable option. It is very gratifying to see that teachers in the secondary system want to move into primary teaching, particularly upper primary teaching. Teachers with specific interests in subject areas such as science, English and mathematics will provide great resources to primary schools if they make that move from secondary to primary.

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