Mixed reaction from parents as teachers blast school hours shake-up

The state government is being accused of trying to cover up a critical teacher shortage with a new optional policy that would allow schools to shorten their week.

The state government is being accused of trying to cover up a critical teacher shortage with a new optional policy that would allow schools to shorten their week.

The radical shake-up, circulated to all state school principals on Monday, has been labelled a “pre-election stunt” by the Teachers Professional Association Australia.

But Education Minister Grace Grace insists the policy, which will take effect on the first day of school next year, is all about schools being more flexible if their communities want it.

TPPA national co-ordinator Scott Stanford said teachers already under the pump to get through the curriculum would struggle to do it in four days.

“They’re trying to cover up a teacher shortage the wrong way,” he said.

“If teachers are struggling to get the curriculum done in five days, dropping it back to four days and fitting the same curriculum in is not going to work.”

The document stresses that any principals who opt in to the policy must ensure supervision is provided for students if their parents cannot be at home with them on a non-attendance day.

“It is an updated policy if a school is looking at some flexible arrangements … they will have to go through extensive community consultation,” Ms Grace said.

“Sometimes schools are criticised for not being flexible enough, particularly in year 11 and 12 … if there’s good ideas about flexibility in some cohorts (then) let’s be more flexible.”

Parents had mixed feelings about the idea – some agree it could help senior students juggle their study, while others say kids would struggle with their learning crammed into four days.

The policy only takes effect if schools want to change start or finish times by more than 30 minutes, and can apply to all students or only specific year levels or cohorts.

Fursey Whyte with son Ollie, 9. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Fursey Whyte, whose nine-year-old son Ollie is in year 4, said as long as supervision was provided at school on the students’ day off, he saw the benefits the idea offered.

“If the curriculum is going to be complete and they are going to get the same end goal out of it and it helps everybody, I don’t see an issue with it,” he said.

“I definitely see an advantage in their senior years if they are doing TAFE or VET courses.”

Teresa Maragos, who has children in years 4, 6, and 8, was hesitant, with her main concern being that her children would be too tired from having extra-long days.

Barry Auld, who has two year 3 children and one each in years 4 and 10, had concerns because two of his children had learning difficulties.

“Provided there was still a program where they had someone who could help them with follow-up or catch-up work and there wasn’t too much of a break, I’d be OK with it, but there still seems to be a lot of grey area,” he said.

Mr Stanford conceded the policy could work in the right circumstance.

“I am actually for this idea, as long as the consultation is done right,” he said.

“I don’t see why we have to create guidelines and policies around it. We basically have to get out of the way of principals and parents who know what their communities want, and let them do it.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli described the communication from Ms Grace and the government around the shortened school week policy as “worse than Optus”.

“No one wins when governments make policies on the run,” he said.

“Where is the consultation and communication? I think that is what parents and teachers are asking this morning.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said: “Any changes to school hours must occur in consultation with parents, staff, students and other key stakeholders, and be approved by a regional director.”

The usual five-day weeks remained the expectation.