The Victorian Government Schools Union is gearing up to negotiate their log of claims with the government in an effort to address the issue of unpaid work being done by teachers and principals. The union has previously requested an increase in pupil-free days during negotiations, but this has been rejected by the government in the past. The current agreement allows teachers a reduction of 90 minutes of face-to-face time each week for preparation and planning, as well as time-in-lieu for various school events. However, the unpaid work remains a significant problem and needs to be addressed according to the union.
Parents Victoria chief executive Gail McHardy emphasized the importance of clear communication and advance notice for any changes in pupil-free days. Parents have expressed frustration with poor communication and the challenge of juggling different pupil-free days at multiple schools. McHardy encouraged collaboration among school networks to alleviate this challenge for parents. La Trobe University’s Professor Joanna Barbousas highlighted the importance of pupil-free days for schools to adopt new practices and for teachers to prepare before entering the classroom. She stressed the need for accountability in how these days are used.
The state government has allocated $10.7 million to reduce the time spent on administration by school staff, including support for curriculum and assessment planning. Schools can use pupil-free days to prepare for the introduction of phonics into the curriculum for prep to grade 2 next year, with teachers being provided ready-to-use resources for the transition. A state government spokesperson praised the talented teachers in Victoria and emphasized their commitment to providing resources to support them. The spokesperson also pointed out that pupil-free days give schools the opportunity to retrain and adopt new teaching methodologies, sharing knowledge and best practices with others.
The union will begin developing their log of claims in the coming months and plans to present them to the government by mid-year. With a history of rejected requests for increased pupil-free days, the union is hopeful that the issue of unpaid work can be effectively addressed in the negotiations. Parents have expressed concerns about poor communication and the challenge of managing multiple pupil-free days for children across different schools. La Trobe University’s Professor Joanna Barbousas highlighted the importance of pupil-free days for schools to adopt new practices and for teachers to prepare before entering the classroom, emphasizing the need for accountability in their use.
As negotiations between the Victoria Government Schools Union and the government move forward, addressing the issue of unpaid work done by teachers and principals will be a key focus. Parents Victoria chief executive Gail McHardy stressed the importance of clear communication and advance notice for any changes in pupil-free days to help families plan accordingly. La Trobe University’s Professor Joanna Barbousas emphasized the importance of these days for schools to adopt new practices and for teachers to prepare adequately. The state government has allocated funds to reduce administration time, and schools can use pupil-free days to prepare for curriculum changes and receive resources to support teachers during the transition.
