Former WA Premier Dr Geoff Gallop was in the region recently to present his findings as chair of an inquiry commissioned by the NSW Teacher's Federation which examined the changing nature of teaching since 2004.
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NSW teachers face increased workloads and an urgent pay rise of up to 15 per cent is needed, according to the independent assessment of the teaching profession. A summary of the Gallop Report makes a worrying public education system prophecy.
President of the Inverell Teachers' Association Damien Fleming said the report's findings resonate with the vast majority of teachers.
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"The report captures the frustration, complexities and intensity of teachers' workloads and frame of mind throughout the Inverell Association and beyond," he said.
"The workload, administrative duties and expectations of teachers has increased dramatically over the past number of years.
"With significant increases in teacher's workload, in both volume and complexity, and the many factors that contribute to the intensity of teachers work, such as data collection, new compliances, rapid changes in technology, expansive and reformed curriculum and higher community expectations, teachers are finding that they are working longer hours and drowning in data and administration."
The inquiry accepted 1000 submissions from teachers over a twelve month period.
A series of recommendations are made in the 200-page report including a pay rise of between 10 and 15 per cent over the next two years, an increase in teachers' preparation time and the provision of more specialist support teachers.
Mr Fleming said with these significant increases in workload and responsibility, teachers are now finding it difficult to perform their base duties and educate their students to an elevated level.
"And yet the dedication and commitment of teachers remains high," he said.
NSW teachers have had a 2.5 per cent growth cap on their wages since 2011, in line with all public sector wages.
Recently the NSW government further reduced that cap to between 0.3 and 1.5 per cent for the next three years.
However Mr Fleming said the report is not just a matter of teachers pay.
"It considers the workload of teachers and therefore their health and well-being," he said.
"It also relates significantly to the greater education of our students, their health, happiness, and self-esteem. School is most often seen as a safe place, and an enjoyable experience for the majority of students, but it hides the fact that their teachers are continually under undue stress, overworked and at times, underappreciated, especially by our government.
"It does not take an intellect to appreciate that if your workforce is content, healthy, and work balanced, then the output from that workforce not only increases, but is of a much higher standard and the final results, which are our students results, will also be of a higher standard, and is that not what we are there for."
Inverell teacher and Teachers' Federation representative Caroline Wilson said the report confirms what she has observed over the last 17 years.
"Teacher pay has stagnated, while our work load (due to administrative requirements) has exponentially increased," Ms Wilson said.
"The report shows that teachers are working on average - 55 hours per week, while principals are working on average 63 per hours a week.
"The NSW government has indicated that it will further cap teachers' salaries at 1.5% which will cement salary stagnation."
Longer hours and low pay can only have a negative impact on students' education and exacerbate existing difficulties in recruiting teachers Ms Wilson says, particularly when there are already shortages.
"The Gallop report is very timely in drawing attention to these developments," she said.
Report author Dr Gallop found teachers had not been compensated for the rise in their skills and responsibilities and had seen their salaries decline.
"We're in a dangerous situation. There are already serious teacher shortages coming into the system," Mr Gallop said.
He told AAP a crisis is looming because of extreme workload pressures and the pay disparity with other professions.
The report also recommends that teachers have an extra two hours a week to prepare lessons and collaborate with colleagues.
"We know that teachers are under huge pressure.. the (teacher) shortages gives us a clear signal that we need to do something," Dr Gallop said.
NSW Teachers' Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos and Dr Gallop will tour the state in the coming weeks to present the inquiry findings to Teachers' Federation members before giving a parliamentary briefing on March 16.
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