Says Thorpe: “”One of the things that we’d be loathed to do….”
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/16/3094525.htm
Early teacher exit cash offer
Posted 2 hours 19 minutes ago
The Government expects about 100 teachers to take the early retirement offer.
The Government expects about 100 teachers to take the early retirement offer. (ABC News)
The Tasmanian Government is offering senior teachers a one-off payment of $20,000 to retire early.
The Education Minister Lin Thorp says the move is part of a push to make positions available for newly qualified teachers and is not about getting rid of dead wood.
“One of the things that we’d be loathed to do would be to lose the expertise and experience and dedication of our older teachers,” she said.
The offer will not be available to teachers in subjects where there is a skills shortage.
The Education Union supports the move.
Leanne Wright says since the announcement the union has been inundated with calls from senior teachers wanting out.
“Teaching is a job that requires a lot of energy and enthusiasm it can be exhausting; as people get older some probably find it hard to maintain that.”
It is envisaged about 100 teachers will go.
But the Liberal’s education spokesman, Michael Ferguson, says it is policy on the run.
He says if it is about recruiting graduate teachers for next year, then it is too late.
“Many of the very best graduates who were looking for work in October of this year have since, of course, found employment probably interstate and with non-government schools and the Minister is late for school, she’s missed the boat,” he said.
ABC Online via Peter
