Gonski-style reforms for west 'won't jeopardise jobs'

WEST Australian Premier Colin Barnett will shortly introduce a new Gonski-style funding model for teachers.

WEST Australian Premier Colin Barnett will shortly introduce a new Gonski-style funding model for teachers as part a range of cuts to the education sector but has promised no teacher will lose their job.

But Mr Barnett would not rule out job losses among non-teaching staff when the budget saving measures were rolled out, possibly as early as next week.

The Teese review released earlier this month recommended a new funding model should "provide schools with flexibility in planning and resource deployment, and the capacity to address differences in student needs". It criticised the current model as unfair and for not tackling disadvantage efficiently enough.

Discussions are continuing within government as to the exact nature of the cuts. Principals were due to be briefed yesterday but the meeting was cancelled by the Education Department on Thursday.

Mr Barnett yesterday said the formula being developed would be similar to that under the Gonski model, to which Western Australia is refusing to sign up to.

"Money and teachers go where the students are. We want to get a greater level of equality and efficiency across our school system," Mr Barnett said.

"I'm not saying there won't be some job losses, I'm not saying there won't be some savings. Buy the teacher workforce will remain stable."

Stephen Breen of the Primary Principals Association, believes while permanent teachers would be safe those employed as casuals or on a temporary basis might not. State School Teachers Union president Anne Gisborne said numbers might be reduced by increasing class sizes, not replacing staff, cutting specialist programs and changing the definition of disabled students to cut the number of aides.

Opposition education spokeswoman Sue Ellery questioned why the government was taking so long to act given it had had the Teece report for more than a year.