The NSW Department of Education should reverse its illogical decision to axe 276 teaching positions from the non-school based teaching service, the NSW Teachers Federation said today. The Department informed teachers of the decision which has been described internally as an exercise in operations and efficiency. "To cut teaching positions in the midst of a teacher shortage is incoherent and illogical," said Henry Rajendra, President of the NSW Teachers Federation. "We are yet to see any rationale or evidence for how this will improve educational outcomes for students. That's because there is none. "In the midst of the worst teacher shortage in living memory, teachers are already grappling with a crushing workload, and this will make it worse. Non-school based teachers perform critical work in areas such as teacher professional learning to support the implementation of the curriculum. Now this work will fall back to schools, which simply do not have the necessary resources or time.
"The Department of Education is responsible for providing every teacher in every school with high quality professional learning and curriculum support in order to meet the learning needs of all students. The cuts proposed are the antithesis to this.
"To make matters worse, the Department is allowing only two weeks for consultation on this significant proposed change.
"This is a time when every effort must be made to rebuild the NSW public school system after years of damage caused by the previous government's failed Local Schools, Local Decisions devolutionary policy. Cutting positions will only hinder this necessary rebuild.
"The Department needs to pause and reconsider this decision. Our schools need greater support , not cuts."
