Student learning at risk as job cuts increase class sizes

The State Government’s budget and job cuts in education will increase class sizes, impact on teachers’ core work and put student learning at risk, the AEU said today.

The AEU estimates that the state budget and public sector job cuts combined will see up to 300 education workers sacked from schools and colleges by the start of the 2015 school year.

“Sackings in the order of 200 teachers will mean every class in every school will have three additional students and there will be less time for teachers to devote to important individual learning plans for students,” said Terry Polglase AEU Tasmanian Branch President.

“The Government’s motto, on coming to office, was: ‘If we can lift education we can lift Tasmania. The decision to cut education budgets and sack educators makes a mockery of this and its purported aim to improve student results,” said Mr Polglase.

“It is a flawed strategy to cut resources and support for students with an expectation results will improve!”

Teachers surveyed in 2013 by the AEU reported a chronic overload in administration and non-teaching tasks that were impinging on individual attention and learning plans for students.

“Now the Government is sacking IT workers and Pathway Planners and expecting teachers to pick up that work as well,” said Mr Polglase.

“It’s completely unsustainable and deeply misguided to pile onto teachers other roles that take them away from core teaching duties. It will put student learning at risk,” said Mr Polglase.

“These cuts will have a dramatic negative effect on an education system already under serious strain putting student learning at risk.”

“The Government will not see student results lift or retention improved unless it urgently changes course and stops cutting the resources so desperately needed by teachers and students.”

The AEU, along with other public sector unions, is campaigning to stop the Government sacking an additional 500 public sector workers.

The AEU is holding member meetings across the state, starting next week, to discuss the situation. Meetings are in: Hobart on Wednesday; Launceston on Thursday; Devonport and Burnie on Friday. Meetings are also being held in Zeehan on Monday, 20 October and Smithton on Tuesday 21 October.
Terry Polglase AEU Tasmanian Branch President