The Department continues to show utmost contempt for the profession, disregard for student learning and an abrogation of their duty to provide teachers and students a safe workplace.
In response to overwhelmingly backlash from the profession to the new Student Behaviour Strategy, a rewrite of the Department’s suspension policy, the department has failed to allow adequate time for the profession to make submissions.
Extending the consultation date by two weeks over the school vacation period is unacceptable. This is an insult at a time when teachers and principals are at their limit and under immense pressure during this enduring COVID-19 pandemic.
Again, we call on the Minister to intervene to instruct the Department to suspend the consultation period and ensure a thorough examination of the student discipline policy be held in term 4.