Australia

One in 10 trainee teachers failed numeracy and literacy test

The Courier Mail reports that 1 in 10 trainee teachers have failed a new national literacy and numeracy test, suggesting there are thousands fronting the country’s classrooms without the proper skills to teach. Education Minister Simon Birmingham said that nearly 2000 teachers graduated last year without the skills to pass the test which consisted of questions as simple as working out percentages or spelling frequently used words.

Principal guilty of school credit card fraud

A primary school principal in Cairns has pleaded guilty to dishonest use of a Department of Education credit card. The Cairns Post reported that the principal spent just under $1000 of the school’s money for personal reasons including paying for flights for his family. The man was fined $2000 and stood down pending further disciplinary action.

Concerning spate of knife attacks in Queensland schools

The Brisbane Times reports that the Queensland teachers’ union is concerned about an alarming spate of knife attacks at the State’s schools, reflecting an increasingly violent society. The latest violent incident on Monday has left a 12-year-old girl facing an attempted murder charge. This was the second knife attack at a southeast Queensland school in three weeks.

New LGBTI lessons for teachers

The SMH reports that ‘All of Us’ is the first teacher’s resource of its kind to be funded by the Federal Department of Education and will include seven video lessons accompanied by classroom activities and posters to explore the impact of homophobia and transphobia on students and schools. The Safe Schools Coalition and LGBTI youth group Minus 18 commissioned the resource to help break down gender stereotypes and encourage students to be allies to their LGBTI friends.

Queensland school wins compensation for faulty basketball court

The Brisbane Times has reported that a Queensland school has won more than $500,000 in compensation after architects built the ceiling on a basketball hall so low that the players’ shots would hit the lights. The school requested a ‘full-size basketball court’ however when completed the ceiling was only 120cm above the hoops, making any ball sports in the hall too dangerous for students to play.

Victoria releases new Special Religious Instruction rules

The Age reports that the Victorian Government has released new detailed guidelines for special religious instruction in state schools following the announcement in August that controversially moved SRI from the curriculum to outside of class time. The new rules allow students to make Christmas decorations and sing carols in class but not sing hymns or read holy books like the Bible or the Qu’ran – this must be done either during lunch or before or after school.

Specialised squad to target incompetent teachers in WA

The West Australian reports that a team of principals and labour specialists will be sent into schools to support and advise leaders managing substandard teachers. Education Department director-general Sharyn O’Neill has said that this is part of the State’s crack down on teachers who struggled to manage students’ behaviour, failed to set tests or homework, did not provide class routine or were unable to deal with queries from parents.

International

Teenager jailed for harassing teacher on Facebook

A New Zealand teenager who repeatedly made and used fake Facebook accounts to harass a former teacher has been jailed for one month. Stuff.co reportedthat the female teen first made a Facebook page in the teacher’s name in 2012, posting inappropriate content as though it was posted by the victim. The page was closed down and the teen was warned by police that she could be prosecuted if she did it again. The teen made several more fake profiles in the following months, was prosecuted and sentenced to her month in prison.

Teacher jailed for grooming

News.com reports that a teacher in New Zealand has been jailed for ten years for the grooming and abuse of a schoolboy. The Wellington High Court heard how the female teacher had manipulated and groomed the 10-year-old while he was emotionally vulnerable. The woman pleaded guilty to seven sexual assaults over a three-year span.

Teacher wins appeal against unfair dismissal ruling

Stuff.co reports that a sacked teacher has won a long-winded employment battle against a prestigious New Zealand private school. The teacher claimed that her dismissal for altering end-of-year reports retrospectively was unfair as she had been instructed by a senior teacher at the school to do so. The employment relations tribunal found in the school’s favour at first instance but on appeal the teacher was awarded $85,000 in compensation for her unfair dismissal.

British child sex abuse inquiry to probe VIPs, churches and schools

The SMH has reported that a major British inquiry into decades of institutional child sex abuse will investigate allegations involving ‘people of prominence’ and politicians as well Catholic and Anglican Churches, councils and schools. The inquiry was set up in July last year and is expected to last at least five years and cost about £18 million ($36 million).