Categories: News

Report writing worth $92.2m in unpaid teacher hours

A new survey shows that Victoria's public school staff work an average of 32 unpaid hours on report writing and related activities, delivering a saving of $92.2 million to the state government every semester.

<p>Data collected by the AEU from 8&comma;581 teachers&comma; principals and education support staff from 552 Victorian government schools shows public school staff worked 276&comma;235 unpaid hours on report writing and related activities during Term 2 alone&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;These are absolutely shocking numbers&comma;” AEU Victorian branch president Meredith Peace said&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Report writing is a fundamental task required of teachers and is essential for providing invaluable feedback to students and parents&period; It is alarming that school staff are expected to complete such an important function of teaching largely unpaid and in their own time&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<blockquote>&NewLine;<p>Each year&comma; every public school student in Victoria receives &dollar;1&comma;384 less funding compared to public school students in all other state and territories&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<&sol;blockquote>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;This is another example of how public school staff make up the funding shortfall through excessive workload&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Teachers&comma; principals and education support staff who work in Victorian government schools are dedicated to delivering high quality education” Ms Peace said&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;They work in public education because they want every child to have the opportunity to reach their full potential&comma; and they spend this time on report writing because they understand the importance of sharing accurate information about children’s progress with their parents&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;But excessive workloads leave them exhausted&comma; stressed and at risk of burning out&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<blockquote>&NewLine;<p>This has a direct impact on the education of students&period;sc<&sol;p>&NewLine;<&sol;blockquote>&NewLine;<p>The AEU Victorian Branch is calling on the Andrews Labor Government to commit to more investment in public schools and to include adequate and appropriate measures to alleviate excessive workload&comma; including the employment of additional teachers&comma; in the next Victorian Government Schools Agreement&comma; which is currently being negotiated&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>It has been more than ten months since the AEU Victorian Branch lodged its log of claims&comma; with negotiations commencing in December 2020&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;We are continuing those negotiations with the Government in good faith&comma; however to this point in time the government has not put a formal offer on the table&comma;” Ms Peace said&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;As part of our ongoing campaign&comma; AEU members will be seeking further meetings with local State Labor MPs to raise concerns about excessive workloads&comma; including in relation to report writing activities&comma; and to seek support for measures to address their concerns&period;” <&sol;p>&NewLine;

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