New public register to catch out dud NSW teachers

Readers of The Daily Telegraph have voiced their opinion on a government move to put every NSW teacher on a register. Do you agree? Have your say here.

Readers have reacted strongly to a plan to hold dud teachers to account, with some comparing it to biblical scenes of public stonings.

“It’s a public stoning of teachers...It’s the (Department’s) job to make sure teachers are competent and acceptable. There is no need to publicly shame teachers,” one reader said.

University of Western Sydney’s senior lecturer in criminology Dr Michael Kennedy said teachers should not be publicly shamed and even if they have served time in jail, that does not mean they can’t teach children.

“Education is being a bit precious,” he said.

He cited the example of Michael Coutts-Trotter, who is the current Secretary of the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.

“He is a living example that it is possible for people to reinvent themselves,” Dr Kennedy said.

“You would have to examine each case on its merits.”

NSW TEACHERS TO BE PLACED ON REGISTER

Every teacher in NSW will be placed on a register so parents can check their suitability for the classroom as new data reveals a record number of public school staffers were fired for misconduct last year.

The latest figures reveal 137 school staff were fired or forced to resign last year, including one unnamed teacher who was convicted of murder while overseas and was subsequently fired from their job.

Under the new rules written into law last week, Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said a register of teachers would allow parents to confirm their child’s teacher – in both the public and private systems – was accredited with the NSW Education Standards Authority.

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Schools already make sure teachers have a “working with children” check before starting a new job, but the register will close a loophole that currently allows teachers who have been fired for general incompetence or inappropriate conduct to keep getting employed.

Teacher suitability will be determined by the NSW Education Standards Authority and criteria will include the assessment of non-child-related offences, disciplinary processes and findings relating to a teacher’s relationships with colleagues and parents.

The public database will also allow parents to see the good teachers with no black marks against their name.

That means if a teacher is not on the list, it will act as a red flag to parents that something is seriously wrong with a child’s teacher while schools will know that a job applicant has been previously deemed incompetent.

The register will be operating by the first half of next year.

Ms Mitchell said it would ultimately make the teaching profession stronger while ­assuring parents schools were safe places with quality ­teachers. “It is vital that accreditation in NSW meets community expectations and national standards,” she said.

“Our teacher accreditation requirements ensure every ­student in every school and early childhood service across NSW is taught by a qualified teacher, who has a ‘working with children’ check clearance, meets national teaching standards and regularly completes professional learning.”

Northern beaches mum Martina Trembuch said she supported the move and said she would check the register when her sons Hugo, 3 and Oliver, 8 got a new teacher. Picture: Richard Dobson

According to the latest statistics, 137 teachers left the public school system last year for a raft of reasons, from committing violent crimes to having inappropriate relationships with students, compared with 82 in 2019 and just 26 in 2008.

Meanwhile, records show that 91 teachers were either forced to resign or were dismissed for simply not performing well in their jobs.

Martina Trembuch is mum to Oliver, 8, and Hugo, 3.

Oliver attends St Kevin’s Primary School at Dee Why with the Northern Beaches mum eager to look up her children’s teachers when the register becomes available.

“Whenever I buy something online I always like to look at the reviews, (similarly) I want to know who I am dealing with,” she said.

“Now it is going to be an option, it is something I will definitely do.”

Originally published as New public register to catch out dud NSW teachers