❓ Hon Nick Goiran questions the Education portfolio regarding the number of teachers without formal qualifications employed at the start of the school year. The answer reveals 257 such individuals, representing 1% of the teaching workforce, employed under Limited Registration.
AnsweredQoN 2215Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the supplementary information provided to the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations following the 2023–24 budget estimates hearing on 25 June 2024. It asserts that at the beginning of the school year, ''There was a teacher in front of every classroom.'' How many of those people did not have a teaching qualification or degree?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 November 2024
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Education
Response time
11 days
257.
The 257 represent 1% of the total teaching workforce in the government education system on Day 1. All teachers employed by the Department of Education are required to be registered with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA). The 257 were all granted Limited Registration by the TRBWA following applications made by the Department. It is important to note that all schemes of teacher registration across Australia similarly provide for an alternative authorisation to teach.
Limited Registration allows an employer to employ suitably qualified people who are not registered teachers to fill specific teaching roles, when needed. Employers may make applications for Limited Registration, on behalf of a nominee, to the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia pursuant to the Teacher Registration Act 2012 (WA).
To be eligible for Limited Registration, a nominee must:
· have an offer of a teaching position
· have the required skills, expertise and/or qualification(s) for the duties of the teaching position offered
· have the English language skills required for teachers in Western Australia
· be a fit and proper person to be registered.
Table 1
Number of untrained teachers employed by the Department as of pay 1 February 2024, that included the first day of school (31 January 2024).
Type
Number of staff (headcount)
Pre-Service Teachers
202 (including 56 Teach for Australia)
Not undertaking any Initial Teacher Education courses
55
Table 2
Of the 55 untrained teachers not undertaking any Initial Teacher Education courses
Categories
Number of staff (headcount)
Aboriginal Language Teachers
25
Languages Other Than English (excluding Aboriginal Language teachers)
9
Music
11 (6 Instrumental School of Music Teachers and 5 appointed to regional schools)
Design and Technology (includes Trade)
2
Humanities and Social Science
2
Secondary Generalist
2
Early Childhood Education
1
Education Support
1
Health and Physical Education
1
Primary
1
Total
55
The 257 represent 1% of the total teaching workforce in the government education system on Day 1. All teachers employed by the Department of Education are required to be registered with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA). The 257 were all granted Limited Registration by the TRBWA following applications made by the Department. It is important to note that all schemes of teacher registration across Australia similarly provide for an alternative authorisation to teach.
Limited Registration allows an employer to employ suitably qualified people who are not registered teachers to fill specific teaching roles, when needed. Employers may make applications for Limited Registration, on behalf of a nominee, to the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia pursuant to the Teacher Registration Act 2012 (WA).
To be eligible for Limited Registration, a nominee must:
· have an offer of a teaching position
· have the required skills, expertise and/or qualification(s) for the duties of the teaching position offered
· have the English language skills required for teachers in Western Australia
· be a fit and proper person to be registered.
Table 1
Number of untrained teachers employed by the Department as of pay 1 February 2024, that included the first day of school (31 January 2024).
Type
Number of staff (headcount)
Pre-Service Teachers
202 (including 56 Teach for Australia)
Not undertaking any Initial Teacher Education courses
55
Table 2
Of the 55 untrained teachers not undertaking any Initial Teacher Education courses
Categories
Number of staff (headcount)
Aboriginal Language Teachers
25
Languages Other Than English (excluding Aboriginal Language teachers)
9
Music
11 (6 Instrumental School of Music Teachers and 5 appointed to regional schools)
Design and Technology (includes Trade)
2
Humanities and Social Science
2
Secondary Generalist
2
Early Childhood Education
1
Education Support
1
Health and Physical Education
1
Primary
1
Total
55
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