Australia

Teachers fear a ‘digital divide’, with parents concerned about ‘bring-your-own-devices’ costs

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Federal Government’s decision to not fund the final two years of the Gonski scheme has led to fears among NSW teachers that wealth will determine the quality of a child’s education. The NSW Teachers’ Federation has voiced concerns that a ‘digital divide’ is inevitable as research shows that 25% of parents are struggling with the growing burden to buy devices for their children’s education that can cost up to $1200 per child.

Sydney private school accused of underpaying employees

A Sydney private school faced the Fair Work Commission in December over allegations that it had not paid some of its early learning staff overtime, penalties or provided them with pay slips. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the allegations were brought by the Independent Education Union. The school’s legal counsel told the Commission that as the employees were employed by a separate entity they were not entitled to the award agreements reached between the school and the Union. The Commission hearing is ongoing.

Seven teachers fired in the Northern Territory, up on the past two years

The Northern Territory News reports that more teachers were fired from NT schools in 2014-15 than in each of the two previous years. The Education Department has since introduced new policies streamlining the dismissal process and ensuring that all staff understand appropriate workplace behaviours and the disciplinary process to be actioned in the result of a breach. The teachers were fired for either gross misconduct or an inability to perform.

Funding restored to South Australian Islamic school

The Federal Education Minister has announced that the Islamic College of South Australia has taken action to address concerns about its financial management and governance since its funding was frozen late last year and the Federal Government has reinstated its funding. The Minister said that ‘school governance should be one of the highest standards and funding should be used for the benefit of students’. Education HQ reports that the SA Education Minister has refused to reinstate state-based funding, saying that she is awaiting a response from the College to issues raised in a state review.

International

Teacher out of a job after bad-mouthing student on Facebook

A teacher in the U.S. has resigned after posting derogatory and profane comments on her personal Facebook page about one of her students who, she says, has a learning disability. Atlanta news outlet 11 Alive reported that the teacher’s posts referred to an unnamed student who was given additional time to finish tests saying “he has some [expletive] disorder”. The School released a statement denouncing the teacher’s conduct.

Teachers plan ‘sickout’ in response to class sizes and conditions

The Guardian reports that a substantial number of teachers from at least 40 schools in Detroit will participate in a ‘sickout’ where the teachers will simultaneously call in sick, fuelled by frustration over large class sizes and ‘abominable’ working conditions. State and local education officials have criticised the plan as an ‘unethical approach’ to raising concerns, saying that it hurts students the most.