Latest news with #teacherworkload
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Queensland government refuses to say when it'll release landmark school review
The Queensland government is refusing to say when it will release a two-year landmark review into teacher resourcing. The Comprehensive Review of School Resourcing, conducted from 2023, examined factors including funding, teacher shortages and workload, and staff and student welfare. It's expected to recommend a new resourcing model to manage the issues. The government is currently locked in pay negotiations with the Queensland Teachers Union (QTU), with its bargaining agreement due to expire in two weeks. On Wednesday afternoon, it offered a wage increase of 8 per cent over three years, short of what the union is seeking. The QTU has previously said a pay offer also needed to include a commitment to implement the outcomes of the review. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the review was "being worked on" and would be "revealed in the relatively near future", but that wouldn't be before the wage agreement ended. "There are no sinister reasons for us not having had more public discussions about the school resourcing review. The enterprise bargaining agreement expires in 11 days," he said. The government received the report in December and state cabinet has not yet considered it. "It's the first review in over 30 years of school resourcing, so we had to work through it methodically and calmly," Mr Langbroek said. "It also needs to go to cabinet and we don't talk about what happens in cabinet." In a statement, the QTU said it was "appalled" by the government's refusal to release the review. It said it was using it to "strengthen its position ahead of enterprise bargaining negotiations". "Clearly, the decision to hide this report from public view is strategic and not in the interests of transparency and accountability, two key elements the premier campaigned on at the state election. "In simple terms, this government is hiding a detailed report to ignore the true issues because it doesn't fit its agenda." Opposition leader Steven Miles called on the state government to release the review. "Queensland parents want to know that their schools are properly resourced. Queensland teachers want to know that their government and their minister have their back. "I'd simply say to John-Paul Langbroek, what are you hiding here? Why are you afraid of this report?" In a letter, Department of Education Director-General Sharon Schimming offered teachers a 3 per cent pay increase next financial year and a 2.5 per cent increase for the following two years. "This offer also aims to create a replacement agreement that is easy to navigate, has a focus on employee entitlements, is clearer and more accessible for principals and senior leaders to understand their industrial obligations and supports greater workforce flexibility," she said. Prior to the pay offer being made, Mr Langbroek said "significant negotiations" had taken place. The QTU — boasting 48,000 members — has stated it would push for "nation-leading salaries and conditions". Teachers are the latest frontline workers the government needs to secure new bargaining agreements with. Pay negotiations with the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union broke down last month, with the health workers taking industrial action for the first time since 2002. Agreements with police and firefighters also need to be brokered, totalling more than 260,000 public sector employees.
The Independent
03-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
‘Excessive workload' means 44% of teachers work extra day every week, says union
Workload levels mean more than two-fifths of teachers are working the equivalent of an extra day each week – with more than one in 10 working an additional two days without pay, research has found. A survey by the EIS teaching union found 44.3% of teachers who took part said they work an additional seven unpaid hours in a typical week. Meanwhile 11.5% of teachers said they work an extra 15 hours or more per week – the equivalent of two more days. The results are revealed in a survey the union carries out every two years which looks at workload, health and wellbeing issues. The findings were made public ahead of the union's annual general meeting later this week – where it will open a consultative ballot for industrial action over the Scottish Government's 'failure' to meet a commitment to reduce time spent in classes for teachers. EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: 'The results of the EIS national survey paint a stark picture on the matter of teacher workload. 'It is a story of persistent, excessive workload demands being placed on teachers at all grades and at all stages of their careers. 'This has serious health, safety and wellbeing implications for teachers, and is contributing to a worrying upward trend in stress-related illness throughout the teaching profession.' A total of 10,789 teachers from across Scotland took part in the survey – with only 17.5% saying they are either 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with their workload levels. Two-thirds (66.9%) reported being either 'dissatisfied' or 'very dissatisfied' with workload levels generally. When looking at the preparation and marking teachers have to do for classes, almost three-quarters (73%) said they are rarely or never able to do this within the working week. And 64% said they can never complete all the tasks assigned to them within their working week. Ms Bradley said tackling 'excessive teacher workload' is one of the key aims of the union's Stand Up for Quality Education campaign. She vowed to press both local councils, who employ teachers, and the Scottish Government on the 'vital issue'. It comes after the last SNP Holyrood election manifesto pledged to cut the time teachers spend in the classroom by 1.5 hours a week 'to give them the time they need to lift standards'. But Ms Bradley said: 'Four years on from that pledge being made, there has been absolutely no tangible progress towards delivering it, and no proposals as to how it will be delivered. 'It is the failure to deliver on this vital promise on class contact time that will lead to the EIS opening a consultative industrial action ballot over workload at our annual general meeting later this week.' The Scottish Government said ministers will continue to work with unions and local government body Cosla to 'agree our approach to delivering a reduction in class contact time'. A spokesperson added: 'This is also why we are providing local authorities with an additional £186.5 million to restore teacher numbers, alongside an additional £29 million to support the recruitment and retention of the ASN (additional support needs) workforce. 'This funding has been provided on the clear agreement that meaningful progress is made on reducing teacher class contact time.'
