NSW: Council agrees on new teacher staffing agreement
SYDNEY, Feb 11 AAP - The NSW Teachers Federation Council has voted in favour of a newstaffing agreement with the Department of Education.
The council voted in favour of the agreement on February 9 following extensive talksbetween the department and federation representatives which began late last year.
The agreement aims to achieve the equitable distribution of teachers across the stateand puts the NSW public education system in a strong position to address any future teachershortages which may arise, a statement from the department said.
"I am pleased with the co-operative way the department and federation worked togetherto achieve this outcome," director-general of the Department of Education and Training,Ken Boston, said in the statement.
"Foremost in the minds of the department and the federation during negotiations washow to best serve the interests of public education."
The department would continue talks with the federation to implement the new agreement, he said.
Federation president Maree O'Halloran said the agreement would ensure all studentsreceived quality education, no matter where they lived.
"The strategies in the agreement include a system of early employment and placementof new graduating teachers based on comprehensive workforce planning," she said.
"The maintenance of transfer rights, which is such a critical incentive to attractteachers to the more difficult to staff areas of the state, was essential and is welcome.
"This will be supported by discussion on further incentives not only to attract teachersbut also to retain teachers in those more difficult to staff areas, which may includemeasures such as scholarships and retraining."
Education Minister John Watkins also welcomed the agreement, saying it would be a positiveoutcome for students, teachers and public education.
AAP kp
KEYWORD: TEACHERS
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