Mr MILLS - 2005-08-17
Whilst there is some comfort in your acknowledgement that there has been an unacceptably high teacher turnover this year, we note that the 63 who had to be recruited were recruited mid-year, which implies a number of them left in that first semester. Has the government carried out exit interviews with teachers leaving the Northern Territory to find out why they are going, and what are the results of these exit interviews?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it rests with the principals of the school but, generally, there would be a policy of endeavouring to find out from a teacher, if they are leaving mid-term, why they are leaving in order to understand if there is a systemic or departmental failure or deficiency that ought to have been picked up. Teachers, being human, do leave for a variety of reasons. I can recall, as a parent, my young daughter undergoing a number of teacher changes in the significant early years program. There seemed to be no end of reasons why that particular class was subject to constant teacher change during that year. It could be for any number of reasons from family reasons to return south, relationship matters, to any range of personal matters.
I will seek what information I can. The department would certainly be rounding that up, as I said. We would be keen to understand as quickly as possible if there was a particular situation in a school. I noticed recently there were a couple at Tennant Creek I want to understand, and I have asked whether there was anything particular in Tennant Creek …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
My question was very specifically directed at: have exit interviews been conducted and, if so, are the results of those exit interviews available?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Ministers, as you know, have a fair bit of latitude in answering questions. I am sure the minister is answering the question.
Mr STIRLING: I am giving the member for Blain, I believe, what he would want to hear; that is, that I will seek from the department a briefing on those matters: what do we understand regarding these teacher turnover, and are there systemic reasons or deficiencies that can be addressed. I will report that information to him as soon as it is delivered to me.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it rests with the principals of the school but, generally, there would be a policy of endeavouring to find out from a teacher, if they are leaving mid-term, why they are leaving in order to understand if there is a systemic or departmental failure or deficiency that ought to have been picked up. Teachers, being human, do leave for a variety of reasons. I can recall, as a parent, my young daughter undergoing a number of teacher changes in the significant early years program. There seemed to be no end of reasons why that particular class was subject to constant teacher change during that year. It could be for any number of reasons from family reasons to return south, relationship matters, to any range of personal matters.
I will seek what information I can. The department would certainly be rounding that up, as I said. We would be keen to understand as quickly as possible if there was a particular situation in a school. I noticed recently there were a couple at Tennant Creek I want to understand, and I have asked whether there was anything particular in Tennant Creek …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
My question was very specifically directed at: have exit interviews been conducted and, if so, are the results of those exit interviews available?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Ministers, as you know, have a fair bit of latitude in answering questions. I am sure the minister is answering the question.
Mr STIRLING: I am giving the member for Blain, I believe, what he would want to hear; that is, that I will seek from the department a briefing on those matters: what do we understand regarding these teacher turnover, and are there systemic reasons or deficiencies that can be addressed. I will report that information to him as soon as it is delivered to me.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016