Workload is one of the biggest issues teachers face. Can the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) help lighten their load? CEO Paul Martin thinks it can.
Recently, NESA introduced several significant reforms aimed at reducing teacher workload, but Martin acknowledges that there is still work to be done.
As the keynote speaker for the IEU’s AGM in October, Martin acknowledged that NESA played a role in contributing to teacher workload issues.
He believes it’s important teachers know that NESA has heard them. When the education authority crafts policies that create additional work for teachers, “we need to recognise what our place is in that and change the policies”.
NESA is built around stakeholder consultation, he said. “And I think a government department admitting when it’s wrong is a really important part of a democratic process.”
Ministerial direction
NSW Education Minister and Deputy Premier Prue Car has provided NESA with a clear directive, Martin said. Anything the government body does must not increase workload.
“We need to simplify any policies we have that either create unnecessary work, or that can be used to create unnecessary work,” Martin said.
While he acknowledges NESA can and will do more to decrease the burden, he said the organisation isn’t always at fault.
“Sometimes, an employer or a teacher or a supervisor within the school interprets NESA’s requirements in ways that add workload,” he said.
NESA can help by being clear about requirements and by making sure those requirements are focused and specific.
Asked about other opportunities to reduce teacher workload, Martin said NESA intends to address professional learning issues by simplifying the process to become a Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT).
School registrations can sometimes create extra work for teachers, but Martin said NESA has “tried to simplify that already”.
Reducing workload isn’t just about removing requirements, it’s also about supporting teachers. For example, Martin believes syllabuses must have an assessment and that assessment materials should be appropriate. “And we can help with that, too,” he said.
Expectations and assistance
State and federal governments have recognised the need to reduce teacher workload. Recently, the NSW Government released a Statement of Expectations, welcomed by the IEU.
The statement focuses on reducing teacher workload and sets out what the government expects from NESA. While governments now see the need for teachers to do less, the message hasn’t necessarily reached every school.
NESA can assist by communicating clearly, to avoid requirements being misinterpreted. One step NESA could take is setting a maximum rather than a minimum standard of compliance. “It’ll be a point of discussion,” Martin said.
The union has heard from many early childhood teachers who are struggling to gain proficiency. Many work in small centres where they may not have a senior member of staff who can fulfill the role of supervisor.
It’s an important issue, Martin said. “I think we need to do more to assist the teachers who are feeling isolated in those environments to be supported.” NESA will be working to address accreditation and proficiency for early childhood teachers in 2024.
Professional development
Another concern for many members is the hurdles teachers face when looking to complete accredited PD. NESA has already addressed the union’s elective PD concerns, but Martin acknowledges there are still problem areas. He said there is a wealth of PD providers, but teachers need to be trusted to identify PD, and NESA needs to recognise as many kinds as possible.
“The union welcomes NESA as the teacher accrediting authority,” IEU NSW/ACT Branch Deputy Secretary David Towson said.
“It means it’s a fairer and more consistent application of the standards of proficiency that will be applied across schools.”
Martin stresses NESA is working towards consistency not uniformity. He sees it as another workload issue. “We’ll be able to reduce workload because we’ll be clear about the expectations and then we’ll be consistent about what standards are being reached.”
Towson said: “Progress on workload issues has been made and we’ll continue to address it on behalf of members.”