Old Ways Best For Vacancies: Teachers

Newcastle Herald

Saturday August 2, 2008

FRANCES THOMPSON EDUCATION

HUNTER teachers say their preferred way of filling vacancies offers the fairest solution for remote, "hard" schools that often struggle to attract good staff.

They insist protests over new staffing arrangements are not unreasonable even though they doubt the public may not be convinced of their motives.

Teachers at Tomaree will stop work next week and are likely to vote for more strike action after a decision by the principal to advertise a vacancy for a mathematics teacher, in line with its new staffing arrangements introduced earlier this year.

The Department of Education and Training said advertising the position gave the school a bigger role in getting an appropriate teacher.

The NSW Teachers Federation believes it to be the first vacancy at a secondary school in NSW to emerge under the new procedures.

Port Stephens Teachers Association president and Tomaree teacher Vicki McCleer said there were teachers from Broken Hill, West Wyalong, Coolah and Mount Druitt at the school.

"It is the sort of place you aspire to," Mrs McCleer said.

NSW Teachers Federation Hunter representative Fred Dumbrell has worked in remote places.

He said the Government's arrangements sound "fair enough"and reasonable.

"The procedures [advertising positions] take away rights . . .", Mr Dumbrell said.

"These changes diminish equity in staffing," he said.

The department says it will establish a group with an independent chairperson to monitor the new arrangements.

In a statement, it said there was no teacher on priority transfer suitable for the job and the service transfer candidate was asked to apply for the job.

The staffing flashpoint at Tomaree is likely to be the first of rolling industrial action at schools in the region this month.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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