Latrobe Valley teaching staff remain on edge, amid ongoing confusion surrounding the State Government’s intentions to introduce stricter performance pay and review guidelines.
Last month numerous principals were forced to backtrack after initially informing teachers the State Government was introducing performance review quotas, a measure through which some teachers could be made redundant.
While the misinformation was soon after retracted, numerous teachers, who wished to remain anonymous, have told The Express the incident has left numerous teaching staff rattled, with one teacher stating she was “terrified” for her future.
Australian Education Union regional organiser Jeff Gray said while the Department of Education has since confirmed performance quotas are not on the agenda, the State Government was still seeking to implement more “rigorous” progression pay measures in the current review cycle.
“The initial feedback I got after that was some very angry and upset principals having to tell their staff they would be searching for quotas, and would have to fail staff,” Mr Gray said.
“It’s calmed down a bit now … but we still believe and are concerned there may be principals expected to come under pressure to be stricter on their teachers.”
“With what they are pushing for now, in terms of progression pay, no one would lose their job, but people that were due a pay rise might not get it under their more ‘rigorous’ approach.”
Morwell Park Primary school principal Chris Joustra said there was some merit in the State Government’s effort to improve teaching standards.
“The teaching profession is not a stagnant one, we expect teachers to be continuously going through professional development, as you would expect your doctor to be, and wherever there is an increase in the understanding in methodologies- the way we taught 50 years ago is not the way we teach now,” Mr Joustra said.
“What we are unclear of is where we sit in two years’ time; I don’t think any of us know where we are going to be in the future (of teacher performance methodology).
“But what is clear is there will be a great emphasis on effective performance and development – but the problem is if we are not careful about how we go about this, we may not achieve what it is we are seeking.”
The State Government’s moves to make changes to progression pay are currently being challenged by the AEU in the Federal Court,
A spokeswoman for the Minister responsible for the Teaching Profession Peter Hall said it was inappropriate to comment due to current court proceedings.
