Teachers turn heat on Denis Napthine

Striking teachers will rally in new Premier Denis Napthine's home seat.  Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

STRIKING teachers will rally in new Premier Denis Napthine's home seat as their campaign for better pay and conditions escalates even further.

The action, to occur on April 30, is the first in a fresh round of half-day regional stoppages statewide.

It comes as talks today again failed to resolve the two-year industrial dispute.

Australian Education Union Victorian president Meredith Peace said she was pleased the Premier had taken performance pay off the negotiating table but teachers now needed to see what he was prepared to offer.

``We do not take industrial action lightly, but in this case we must keep fighting, it is crucial to ensure quality teachers, principals and education support staff remain in this state and in our profession,'' Ms Peace said.

``To ensure every Victorian student receives the education they deserve, we need to attract and retain the best quality teachers.''

As well as targeting marginal Coalition MPs, teachers and support staff will march in rural and suburban centres and hold street stalls.

The final schedule of stoppages, to be held throughout May and June, is being finalised.

Ashley Gardiner, spokesman for Teaching Profession Minister Peter Hall, said:  ``The Premier last week announced that the Coalition Government would take performance pay off the negotiating table, which would allow the parties to focus on resolving the EBA in the immediate term.

``It was a decision made in the spirit of good faith, and we look to the AEU to embrace that same approach to reach a productive and responsible outcome."

The government and union were continuing to have productive discussions, he said.

The Australian Education Union in November reduced its pay claim to 12.6 per cent over three years; the government offered 2.5 per cent a year plus performance pay.

It had claimed the top 70 per cent of teachers would receive a performance bonus of up to 10 per cent.

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Trainee teachers face tough tests

Education Minister Peter Garrett Mr Garrett says the proposed changes are part of the government's commitment to "raising the quality of teaching at every stage of a teacher's career''. Picture: Kym Smith Source: NewsLocal

ASPIRING teachers would have to perform community work, pass stringent new NAPLAN-style exams - as well as emotional intelligence and aptitude testing - in order to graduate into the nation's classrooms, under a new Federal Government plan.

Labor ministers will today announce sweeping reform to the university admissions and graduation process aimed at improving teacher quality, as part of its National Plan for School Improvement.

From 2016, anyone wishing to enter a teaching degree would be asked to provide a written statement outlining their suitability for a place, as well as undergoing a series of interviews to test whether they have the resilience and emotional intelligence or EQ for the role.

They would also have to demonstrate suitable values and aptitude by providing a portfolio of activities such as coaching a sports team, volunteer work or community involvement.

In order to graduate as teachers they would need to perform in the top 30 per cent of the population in numeracy and literacy tests, which would be part of their course.

Teaching students who failed to meet the benchmark would be offered classes to meet the requirements.

Education Minister Peter Garrett and Tertiary Education Minister Chris Bowen will also announce changes to practicum placements, with a national approach replacing the state-by-state arrangements currently in place.

Qualified teachers who supervise prac placements will also have to meet new training and experience standards.

Mr Garrett said the proposed changes were part of the government's commitment to "raising the quality of teaching at every stage of a teacher's career''.

"Our plan will make sure that only those people who have high levels of literacy and numeracy, a dedication for teaching and a great classroom practice will graduate and enter our schools,'' he said.

"It will mean principals will have confidence in the abilities of their new staff, and parents can be confident that every teacher has gone through a rigorous selection and training process.''

Starting next year, there will also be a review of all teaching courses by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.

The Government said it was working with universities to ensure the changes were in place by 2016, although it expects some institutions will implement them earlier.

The changes follow increased debate about the impact of teacher quality on student outcomes. The NSW State Government last week set a minimum entry standard into teaching courses of at least 80 per cent in three subjects including English, and called for a numeracy and literacy benchmarks for graduate teachers.

A Productivity Commission report last year found Australian students have fallen behind other OECD countries  despite increased spending per student and falling class sizes  and said more effective teachers would help improve standards.

Professor Scott Prasser, executive director of the public policy institute at Australian Catholic University, said addressing both entry scores and course work was ``a step in the right direction.''

Mr Garrett said attracting the best candidates into teaching was essential to improve education standards.

"We already have thousands of great teachers in our schools. But we can always do more to make sure that everyone entering the profession has the skills, personal capacity, and the passion, to be the best teacher possible,'' Mr Garrett said.

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