❓ Mr Day asks about teacher shortages in WA. Mr McGowan acknowledges a shortage of 60 FTEs, mainly in rural areas, and defends the government's record, highlighting increased teacher numbers and innovative teaching methods.
AnsweredQoN 450Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TEACHER SHORTAGE
Madam Deputy Speaker, I am glad you let my interjection through. (1) What is the current shortage of teachers in the Department of Education and Training, in full-time equivalent terms, if the minister wishes? (2) How many students are directly affected by the lack of a dedicated teacher in their classroom? Mr M. McGOWAN
Madam Deputy Speaker, I am glad you let my interjection through. (1) What is the current shortage of teachers in the Department of Education and Training, in full-time equivalent terms, if the minister wishes? (2) How many students are directly affected by the lack of a dedicated teacher in their classroom? Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. (1)-(2) The last advice I had a couple of weeks ago was that the shortage was roughly 60 teachers across the state. That is principally in country areas, and principally in the north of the state. Often it is one or two teachers per school. Bearing in mind that there are roughly 800 schools, there are a group of schools, predominantly in the north of the state, that are one or two teachers down, and that adds up to approximately 60 FTEs in total. That is the last advice I received. To put it into context, in 1999, at this point of the year, the shortage was 70. We had an economy that was in recession at that time. Therefore, the demand of other industries for teachers did not exist then. My source is none other than the then Minister for Education, the member for Cottesloe. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition saying that he would not tell the truth? Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
(1) What is the current shortage of teachers in the Department of Education and Training, in full-time equivalent terms, if the minister wishes? (2) How many students are directly affected by the lack of a dedicated teacher in their classroom? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. (1)-(2) The last advice I had a couple of weeks ago was that the shortage was roughly 60 teachers across the state. That is principally in country areas, and principally in the north of the state. Often it is one or two teachers per school. Bearing in mind that there are roughly 800 schools, there are a group of schools, predominantly in the north of the state, that are one or two teachers down, and that adds up to approximately 60 FTEs in total. That is the last advice I received. To put it into context, in 1999, at this point of the year, the shortage was 70. We had an economy that was in recession at that time. Therefore, the demand of other industries for teachers did not exist then. My source is none other than the then Minister for Education, the member for Cottesloe. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition saying that he would not tell the truth? Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
(2) How many students are directly affected by the lack of a dedicated teacher in their classroom? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. (1)-(2) The last advice I had a couple of weeks ago was that the shortage was roughly 60 teachers across the state. That is principally in country areas, and principally in the north of the state. Often it is one or two teachers per school. Bearing in mind that there are roughly 800 schools, there are a group of schools, predominantly in the north of the state, that are one or two teachers down, and that adds up to approximately 60 FTEs in total. That is the last advice I received. To put it into context, in 1999, at this point of the year, the shortage was 70. We had an economy that was in recession at that time. Therefore, the demand of other industries for teachers did not exist then. My source is none other than the then Minister for Education, the member for Cottesloe. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition saying that he would not tell the truth? Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. (1)-(2) The last advice I had a couple of weeks ago was that the shortage was roughly 60 teachers across the state. That is principally in country areas, and principally in the north of the state. Often it is one or two teachers per school. Bearing in mind that there are roughly 800 schools, there are a group of schools, predominantly in the north of the state, that are one or two teachers down, and that adds up to approximately 60 FTEs in total. That is the last advice I received. To put it into context, in 1999, at this point of the year, the shortage was 70. We had an economy that was in recession at that time. Therefore, the demand of other industries for teachers did not exist then. My source is none other than the then Minister for Education, the member for Cottesloe. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition saying that he would not tell the truth? Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. (1)-(2) The last advice I had a couple of weeks ago was that the shortage was roughly 60 teachers across the state. That is principally in country areas, and principally in the north of the state. Often it is one or two teachers per school. Bearing in mind that there are roughly 800 schools, there are a group of schools, predominantly in the north of the state, that are one or two teachers down, and that adds up to approximately 60 FTEs in total. That is the last advice I received. To put it into context, in 1999, at this point of the year, the shortage was 70. We had an economy that was in recession at that time. Therefore, the demand of other industries for teachers did not exist then. My source is none other than the then Minister for Education, the member for Cottesloe. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition saying that he would not tell the truth? Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
(1)-(2) The last advice I had a couple of weeks ago was that the shortage was roughly 60 teachers across the state. That is principally in country areas, and principally in the north of the state. Often it is one or two teachers per school. Bearing in mind that there are roughly 800 schools, there are a group of schools, predominantly in the north of the state, that are one or two teachers down, and that adds up to approximately 60 FTEs in total. That is the last advice I received. To put it into context, in 1999, at this point of the year, the shortage was 70. We had an economy that was in recession at that time. Therefore, the demand of other industries for teachers did not exist then. My source is none other than the then Minister for Education, the member for Cottesloe. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition saying that he would not tell the truth? Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
(1) What is the current shortage of teachers in the Department of Education and Training, in full-time equivalent terms, if the minister wishes? (2) How many students are directly affected by the lack of a dedicated teacher in their classroom? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. (1)-(2) The last advice I had a couple of weeks ago was that the shortage was roughly 60 teachers across the state. That is principally in country areas, and principally in the north of the state. Often it is one or two teachers per school. Bearing in mind that there are roughly 800 schools, there are a group of schools, predominantly in the north of the state, that are one or two teachers down, and that adds up to approximately 60 FTEs in total. That is the last advice I received. To put it into context, in 1999, at this point of the year, the shortage was 70. We had an economy that was in recession at that time. Therefore, the demand of other industries for teachers did not exist then. My source is none other than the then Minister for Education, the member for Cottesloe. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition saying that he would not tell the truth? Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
(2) How many students are directly affected by the lack of a dedicated teacher in their classroom? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. (1)-(2) The last advice I had a couple of weeks ago was that the shortage was roughly 60 teachers across the state. That is principally in country areas, and principally in the north of the state. Often it is one or two teachers per school. Bearing in mind that there are roughly 800 schools, there are a group of schools, predominantly in the north of the state, that are one or two teachers down, and that adds up to approximately 60 FTEs in total. That is the last advice I received. To put it into context, in 1999, at this point of the year, the shortage was 70. We had an economy that was in recession at that time. Therefore, the demand of other industries for teachers did not exist then. My source is none other than the then Minister for Education, the member for Cottesloe. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition saying that he would not tell the truth? Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. (1)-(2) The last advice I had a couple of weeks ago was that the shortage was roughly 60 teachers across the state. That is principally in country areas, and principally in the north of the state. Often it is one or two teachers per school. Bearing in mind that there are roughly 800 schools, there are a group of schools, predominantly in the north of the state, that are one or two teachers down, and that adds up to approximately 60 FTEs in total. That is the last advice I received. To put it into context, in 1999, at this point of the year, the shortage was 70. We had an economy that was in recession at that time. Therefore, the demand of other industries for teachers did not exist then. My source is none other than the then Minister for Education, the member for Cottesloe. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition saying that he would not tell the truth? Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
I thank the member for Darling Range for the question. (1)-(2) The last advice I had a couple of weeks ago was that the shortage was roughly 60 teachers across the state. That is principally in country areas, and principally in the north of the state. Often it is one or two teachers per school. Bearing in mind that there are roughly 800 schools, there are a group of schools, predominantly in the north of the state, that are one or two teachers down, and that adds up to approximately 60 FTEs in total. That is the last advice I received. To put it into context, in 1999, at this point of the year, the shortage was 70. We had an economy that was in recession at that time. Therefore, the demand of other industries for teachers did not exist then. My source is none other than the then Minister for Education, the member for Cottesloe. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition saying that he would not tell the truth? Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
(1)-(2) The last advice I had a couple of weeks ago was that the shortage was roughly 60 teachers across the state. That is principally in country areas, and principally in the north of the state. Often it is one or two teachers per school. Bearing in mind that there are roughly 800 schools, there are a group of schools, predominantly in the north of the state, that are one or two teachers down, and that adds up to approximately 60 FTEs in total. That is the last advice I received. To put it into context, in 1999, at this point of the year, the shortage was 70. We had an economy that was in recession at that time. Therefore, the demand of other industries for teachers did not exist then. My source is none other than the then Minister for Education, the member for Cottesloe. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition saying that he would not tell the truth? Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr T. Buswell : Absolutely, he does. Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That was the shortage at that time. How many students are affected? Most of them are high school students. A maths teacher may have six or so classes. The number of classes can therefore be multiplied by 28 students, or whatever, if it is a maths teacher. It is not an easy figure to work out, depending upon the number of classes that that particular teacher is in charge of. However, I can say that schools across the state are managing very well. Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr C.J. Barnett : They are not. Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, they are. I am sick and tired of people who try to use these issues, which have been around since 1999, to run down public education in this state. What we saw today - it is something that I have had confirmed to me anecdotally by a range of people in the private school sector - is that the private school sector is having the same problems, and a shortage of teachers is in fact occurring across a range of countries in the western world. Therefore, we are not alone, and private schools are also going through the same thing. I cannot give the member an exact figure for the number of students who are affected. I suspect that it moves around from day to day. However, I know that we have some excellent programs through the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education, as the member would be aware, to provide students around the state with an excellent education. The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
The world is moving in a direction in which the traditional ways of teaching are changing. A teacher standing in front of a classroom with a piece of chalk lecturing students went out a long time ago. I have visited schools around the state. In Mt Newman, for instance, a program called FLIS - that is, flexible learning in schools - is being run. Students in that school operate on computers, and they work with students and teachers in Perth on courses. They have a phone hook-up every single day. It is all technology driven. They are very good courses. I think that we need to move away from the idea that was around when the member was at school in the 1960s that it has to remain immutable - Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr J.H.D. Day : And the 1970s. Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr M. McGOWAN : In the 1960s when the member for Darling Range was at school! We have to move away from the idea that every child has to be taught in the same manner as he or she was taught 50 or 100 years ago, because the world is changing. We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
We have employed 1 300 more teachers than we had when we came to office. There are far more resources out there. However, in some parts of the state, as I said, we are short of some teachers. I urge members opposite to - Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr T. Buswell : Did you get your driver’s licence in year 10? Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have not had a question about the member for Vasse today. After last week’s performance, I thought he might cry, so I have decided not to do one on him. The glass jaw was on show last Thursday. I thought he might come into the chamber and blubber, so I have decided not to do one on him. That is the answer to the member’s question. I urge people to be supportive of public education, as is the government.
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