The education union says teachers have lost their jobs as part of public school budget blowouts, despite assurances from the education minister and directorate there'd be no job losses. It comes as the minister announces a review of public school resourcing and budget management.
00:00Of the ACT's 92 public schools, 77 are expected to be over budget this year.
00:09We know that parents will be really worried about what that looks like for them in their school.
00:15The Territory Government has responded by saying savings would be found in the Education Directorate, not through teacher cuts.
00:22That doesn't come with cuts in mind. It comes to understanding the staffing within schools and what schools actually need.
00:29However...
00:30We are hearing instances where contract staff have had their contracts terminated at the same time as being told that there will be no job cuts.
00:38The union says principals have also been told to consider combining classes and to rein in spending on casual staff.
00:45The Education Directorate says the information provided to principals by the Education Directorate on 21 July has not advised principals to undertake any of those measures.
00:55We will work to address any confusion and misunderstanding.
00:59Everything at the moment is verbal briefings, so it's hardly surprising that people are taking away different messages.
01:07But what's caused the budget blowouts?
01:09The Principals Association says it's due to more complex student needs, illness among staff and rising costs.
01:16The Education Union says school budget blowouts aren't new.
01:20There have been sort of rolling deficits for at least the last three years.
01:25Perhaps not as widespread as is currently being experienced, but those deficits have been accommodated through either reserves or advances from government.
01:36But the union says those sorts of government funds don't exist in the current situation.
01:41The Education Minister has announced a review of public school resourcing to provide independent advice on the allocation of resources within the ACT public school system.
01:51It will also consider improvements to budget management systems and processes.
01:56The review has been welcomed by principals, teachers and parents keen to ensure classes go on uninterrupted.
