Schools

Schools Support Staff

School Staff won't do Teachers Test Work

When the Government can't get teachers to run tests - we won't

By David Carey
Federal Secretary (SPSF Group) - CPSU Joint National Secretary

The Deputy Prime Minister has said that if AEU members wont run the NAPLAN tests on students in May, then she wants Parents, the Education department staff and Schools Support Staff to do the job.

Statement by the CPSU SPSF on the Schools testing dispute 13 April 2010

"The CPSU-SPSF group is the Union that represents tens of thousands of School Support Staff and Education department staff in every State of Australia. The Union is aware that the Australian Education Union is in dispute with the Australian Government, about the operation of the National testing regime (NAPLAN) in schools.

"We are concerned that in this dispute that School Support and Education Departmental staff, and parents of students, have been suggested by the Minister, as replacement personnel to supervise the operation of these tests in the absence of professional teaching staff.

Our Union, the CPSU SPSF and its State organisations, have not been consulted nor contacted by the either the State Governments as the employer of these staff, nor the Federal Government as the author of the NAPLAN testing plan, about the use of the Schools based Support Staff and Education Departmental employees to take over the teachers duties, despite the media announcement that these staff will be utilised.

"If the AEU and other state teachers unions impose bans, the SPSF Group, representing state school support and education staff, will direct its membership not to undertake the work of the Teaching Unions' membership, in the event of industrial bans being imposed by the Teachers Union.

"We believe that this regrettable dispute can, and should, be resolved by a face to face discussion with the Federal Government and the AEU. We are informed that has not happened yet, despite the conduct of the NAPLAN Tests being a matter of a few weeks away from today.

"We are very concerned that our members have been placed in an invidious industrial position by the announcement by the Government spokesperson, on ABC Radio PM programme, that our members may be required to supervise those tests, without any consultation with their union."

David Carey
Federal Secretary
CPSU - SPSF Group

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/schools/20100414_NAPLAN.html
Last Modified: 14 Apr 2010