- Testing of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to
reduce teacher workloads and improve learning
- Pilot range of digital solutions to lessen paperwork
and administration
- $2.26 million trial of 16 school-based
Complex Behaviour Support Coordinators to help teachers support
public school students with disabilities
- Expansion of 'Connect and Respect' program to
limit after-hours contact with public school staff
The Cook Government has today announced the first instalment
of initiatives to reduce red tape, ease workloads, and bring about changes in
schools to free teachers up to teach.
After instigating a
review into red tape earlier this year, Education Minister Dr Tony Buti has
considered the findings of two reports and looked into early research on the
effective use of AI tools to overhaul policies and processes.
Recommendations from the
Department of Education's Understanding and Reducing the Workload of
Teachers and Leaders in Western Australian Public Schools review and the
State School Teachers' Union's Facing the Facts report have informed
some of the initiatives.
Both reports identify the
increasing complexities of teaching and the major drivers of workloads for
staff, school leaders, and schools.
The Government is
considering the use of AI already trialled by other Australian states to modernise
and make more efficient professional learning, lesson planning, marking and development
of assessments.
It can also be used to
reduce teacher workload by simplifying and automating jobs such as excursion
planning, meeting preparation, and writing general correspondence.
The department will work
with the School Curriculum and Standards Authority and the independent and
Catholic sectors to explore how AI can be applied to streamline curriculum
planning and improve classroom teaching.
Additionally, through consultation
and workshops with unions and associations, principals,
teachers, and administrative staff, the department has identified
immediate, short-term and longer-term strategies to lighten the load for public
school educators. These include:
- $2.26
million to be invested to trial 16 Complex Behaviour SupportCoordinators to work with public
school leaders to ensure students with disabilities and learning challenges have
tailored educational programs that best suit their individual needs;
- an
innovative pilot project jointly funded by State and Federal Governments to cut
red tape by digitising paper-based school forms, providing consistent,
accessible and efficient ways to share information online. Each form submitted
saves 30 minutes of staff time compared to the paper-based version; and
- Simplifying the process in relation to the exclusion of public
school students and strengthening support to schools.
To further assist schools, the 'Connect and Respect' program,
which outlines expectations regarding appropriate relationships with teachers,
will be expanded.
This includes creating out-of-office templates which will
set limits on when it is acceptable to contact staff after hours.
The aim is to reduce misunderstandings and conflict, and
allow teaching staff to enjoy a better work-life balance.
Comments attributed to Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"When I became Minister
for Education, I committed to reducing administrative tasks that take teachers
away from their students and out of their classrooms.
"I am strongly of the
view that anything that gets in the way of teachers delivering high-quality lessons
needs to be reduced to the absolute minimum.
"This is not a new issue or
one unique to WA. However, we want to keep our capable, committed teachers.
"We are determined to
create the right conditions for school staff to get on with their jobs.
"I asked the Director
General of Education to examine all department policies, reporting and
administrative demands on principals and teachers, with a view to making
changes and this is the first part of our plan to keep teachers in classrooms.
"These initiatives will have
a significant positive impact in making sure that the time and energy of our
teachers is focused on helping every one of their students to succeed.
"That is what we want our
teachers to do, and that's also what our teachers want to do."
