[Greens-Media] Dropping HECS fees for good teachers would boost workforce

[John Kaye]

Dropping HECS fees for good teachers would boost workforce
 
Media release: 19 October 2012
 
NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli should lobby Canberra to waive
the HECS fee for high-achieving student teachers if he is committed to
attracting and retaining talented teachers, according to Greens NSW MP
John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: "The Teachers Federation proposal that HECS fees for high
achieving new teachers be dropped is an incentive based system that
could help drive teacher quality. 
 
"Waiving HECS fees for high achieving graduates would encourage
students to study hard and provide incentives for graduates to enter
face-to-face teaching. 
 
"Students who do well in their studies but fail to enter the profession
could be an untapped source of talent. 
 
"Waiving HECS fees should be explored as an alternative to the more
damaging measures being flagged by Adrian Piccoli to improve teacher
quality. 
 
"It is crucial that the best and brightest are attracted into public
school teaching to fill both front of classroom and mentor positions. 
 
"The loss of administration and program support for public school
teachers under the O'Farrell government's $1.7 billion cut to public
education will put more pressure on an already stretched workforce. 
 
"It is crucial that incentives are developed for students to enter the
public teaching profession in the face of the O'Farrell government's
deep budget cuts. 
 
"If Adrian Piccoli is serious about attracting and retaining good
teachers in NSW he will take this proposal to the Federal Education
Minister” Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455