[Greens-Media] Time for Firth to admit staff transfer error

[John Kaye]

Time for Firth to admit staff transfer error
 
Media release: 23 October 2008
 
The Greens are calling on NSW Education Minister Verity Firth to
overrule her department head and restore the rights of teachers to
service transfers, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: "Teachers from Campbelltown and Ingleburn have been
driven to protest action by the intransigence of the Department of
Education and Training and the Rees government.
 
"All that teachers want is a fair go for students in hard-to-staff
schools and a reasonable deal for the educationalist who teach them.
 
"The rally outside parliament today would not have been necessary if
Minister Firth had stepped in and put a hold on the transfer system
changes that threaten the rights of every student in a public school to
be taught by a qualified teacher.
 
"While no one likes disruption to classes, the teachers attending the
rally today should be congratulated for standing up for their colleague
and for the future of public education.
 
"Minister Firth should listen to the teachers outside parliament this
morning. She should call in her department head, Michael Coutts-Trotter,
and tell him to restore service transfer rights.
 
"Waiting for a review at the end of the year will be too late. 
 
"It is time to begin good faith negotiations with the Teachers
Federation on the future of the transfer system. 
 
"The starting point has to be the rights of students to be taught by
qualified professionals and the rights of teachers to be recognised for
service in more challenging schools.
 
"This morning's protest meeting is a testament to the commitment of
public sector teachers to their students.
 
"It is time for Ms Firth and Mr Coutts-Trotter to learn from the
Campbelltown and Ingleburn teachers and abandon the damaging and
unnecessary changes to the transfer system,” Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000