NSW teachers to have school administration tasks slashed

Premier Chris Minns is beginning to deliver on his promise to scrap admin tasks for NSW teachers so they have more hands-on time to spend teaching their students. See what he’ll scrap first.

Time-wasting admin tasks tying teachers up in red tape will be slashed from this term in a bid to give frontline school staff more time for educating kids.

More than 70 extra admin tasks due to roll out in Term 2 will be halved, the government will announce on Wednesday, with only essential changes – and those that pose a minimal burden – to remain.

All pilots and programs starting this term will be paused, with a review to be conducted on which will continue.

Among red tape on the chopping block is a plan to give all schools their own water and electricity bills, which would lead to multiple questionnaires and reports.

The move was expected to drag a senior teacher away from the classroom.

The NSW government will begin axing time-wasting admin tasks for NSW’s teachers.

Plans to move schools to a new computer-based phone system will also be scrapped.

The change was going to mean time would be wasted training staff and answering surveys.

Teachers will also not have to fill out forms to “report back” on the parents’ preferred mode of communication.

The government will announce on Wednesday that it is taking the first steps to deliver on a key election commitment to cut five hours of admin work for teachers each week.

Before the election, Premier Chris Minns vowed to task the Education Department with a line-by-line review of administrative tasks on teachers in a bid to reduce their workload and boost outcomes for students.

The review has so-far looked at ways to remove, simplify, or digitise tasks, with a focus on scrapping anything that has no benefit to student learning.

Premier Chris Minns and Education Minister Prue Car have pledged to cut the admin burden for teachers. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Education Minister Prue Car is set to hold a roundtable with stakeholders including the Teachers Federation in coming weeks.

Mr Minns said the changes would help teachers spend more time “in front of students in classrooms, not bogged down with admin work”.

Education Minister Prue Car is set to hold a roundtable with stakeholders including the Teachers Federation in coming weeks.

The move to rein in teacher workloads is part of a bid to give them more face to face time with students.

Mr Minns said the changes would help teachers spend more time “in front of students in classrooms, not bogged down with admin work”.

“We have too many burdensome programs and admin tasks that is resulting in unsustainable workloads for teachers,” he said.

“We’ve made good on a promise to reduce admin hours for teachers. And we know we have more to do.”

Ms Car said the government is working to “urgently” address the “endless requirements to implement policy updates” that are swamping teachers and taking them away from time with students.

“If I can remove some of this work, make teachers’ lives easier so they can focus on student learning then I’ll know my government is delivering for teachers and students,” she said.

NSW Teachers Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos welcomed the announcement.

“The Minister’s announcement aimed at reining in teacher and principal workload that has been spiralling is welcome,” he said.

“Teachers must be freed from a crippling administrative burden to allow them to focus on that which matters most; teaching and learning.”