Read the room, Premier. Performance pay for teachers will make the crisis worse

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 06:55:25 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/read-the-room-premier-performance-pay-for-teachers-will-make-the-crisis-worse-185406>

"Without fail, every time a politician is tasked with reforming education, the
issue of performance-based pay for teachers is put on the table. It’s odd,
really, that such a controversial idea can keep making the rounds with such
enthusiasm from government leaders. But that’s exactly what New South Wales
Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced as part of his platform to reform
education.

The policy is being framed as innovative and designed to “modernise the
education system”, according to the premier.

The proposal has drawn swift criticism. The two largest teachers’ unions in the
state – the NSW Teachers Federation and the Independent Education Union of
Australia (NSW/ACT) – unanimously voted to strike for 24 hours this Thursday,
June 30, in the dispute about pay and staff shortages. It’s the first time
members of the two unions will strike together.

It is unclear whether the premier anticipated this sort of response, but a
brief look at how similar proposals have been received in the past suggests it
isn’t very surprising.

The proposal ignores everything we have learned about why teachers are leaving
the profession. We know they are leaving because of unbearable workloads, low
morale and stagnant pay.

Performance pay will not resolve the fundamental problems that lead to teachers
leaving. It does risk making matters worse."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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