Mr WOOD - 2008-09-17
The teachers are still not happy. One of the things that they and parents are upset about is the government’s policy on relief teachers. Is it true that your government has capped the amount of money that schools receive to pay their relief teachers? Is it also true that, if schools use up that amount, it either uses money from school council funds to employ a relief teacher - if they can get one - or the school has to do without a relief teacher and get a teacher to take two classes? Do you think it is fair, and are you going to change the policy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his long question. I will attempt to answer that question. The employment of relief teachers is the responsibility of schools. The department maintains a list of available relief teachers, which is available to schools on the department website. The number available varies at different times of the school year. For example, teachers taking long-service leave leading into the four-week break means there is a higher demand at that time.
New arrangements for funding relief teachers and relief aides were made in Semester 2 in 2007. Operational funds are provided to schools from public money and are managed by the principal and the school council. Principals and school councils, like other Northern Territory government agencies, have a responsibility to manage public funds effectively and remain within budget. These arrangements provide schools with increased flexibility to focus resources on learning outcomes, school improvement, and strategic initiatives relevant to their school community.
Current funding for relief teachers and relief aides is based on 6.5 days per full-time equivalent teaching staff allocated to each of those schools. Under the new arrangements, schools will be provided with funding for both relief teachers and aides. The base funding will remain at the 6.5 days per FTE, with additional increments for remote and special schools depending on the category of that school. Absences of 15 consecutive days – so anything over and above the 15 days which has been allocated – or longer, is paid centrally. The school can actually apply to the department centrally if that leave is over those 15 consecutive days.
There is that financial safety net that is provided centrally within the department if schools feel that their budget has been used in other areas. Ongoing support and training is provided to principals and school councils to improve the financial management skills and practices within schools. We will continue to provide increased support to principals and school councils on budget preparation.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his long question. I will attempt to answer that question. The employment of relief teachers is the responsibility of schools. The department maintains a list of available relief teachers, which is available to schools on the department website. The number available varies at different times of the school year. For example, teachers taking long-service leave leading into the four-week break means there is a higher demand at that time.
New arrangements for funding relief teachers and relief aides were made in Semester 2 in 2007. Operational funds are provided to schools from public money and are managed by the principal and the school council. Principals and school councils, like other Northern Territory government agencies, have a responsibility to manage public funds effectively and remain within budget. These arrangements provide schools with increased flexibility to focus resources on learning outcomes, school improvement, and strategic initiatives relevant to their school community.
Current funding for relief teachers and relief aides is based on 6.5 days per full-time equivalent teaching staff allocated to each of those schools. Under the new arrangements, schools will be provided with funding for both relief teachers and aides. The base funding will remain at the 6.5 days per FTE, with additional increments for remote and special schools depending on the category of that school. Absences of 15 consecutive days – so anything over and above the 15 days which has been allocated – or longer, is paid centrally. The school can actually apply to the department centrally if that leave is over those 15 consecutive days.
There is that financial safety net that is provided centrally within the department if schools feel that their budget has been used in other areas. Ongoing support and training is provided to principals and school councils to improve the financial management skills and practices within schools. We will continue to provide increased support to principals and school councils on budget preparation.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016