Additional teachers to support public school students

Funding of $119 million to boost teaching support, over the next four years, has been secured as part of the 2017-18 State Budget.

The McGowan Labor Government will place an additional 120 teachers in public school classrooms to support student learning.

Of the additional 120 teaching staff, 72 full-time equivalent teachers will be appointed to free up half a day a week for exemplary teachers - known as Level 3 Classroom Teachers - to work in specific areas to benefit students.

This enables a Level 3 Classroom Teacher to mentor other teachers and share their expertise to enhance teaching practices.

Another 30 will be appointed to secondary schools so a Level 3 Classroom Teacher can take on the role of co-ordinating and delivering mental health programs for students. 

These teachers are in addition to the 18 teachers (Independent Learning Coordinators and Regional Learning Specialists) recently announced to support country students studying courses through the School of Isolated and Distance Education.

To help children crack the code of the alphabet and become confident readers, $3.5 million will be allocated to work with the tertiary sector to establish a Centre of Excellence in Literacy and Explicit Instruction to develop an increased knowledge in this teaching method.

The McGowan Labor Government is also putting 300 more Education Assistants and 50 more Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers in classrooms, over the next three years, as it delivers its election commitment to boost teaching support in schools.

To help teachers incorporate coding into their teaching, the Government is investing $2 million in professional learning to ensure schools have the resources, equipment and expertise to teach students science and coding.

For more 2017-18 State Budget information, visit http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au

Comments attributed to Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:

"We want to provide students in WA with a world-class education and give them every chance for success.

"By placing more teachers in public schools, we are giving students the support they need to achieve their very best and giving our exemplary teachers greater opportunities to share their knowledge with others.

"Students in schools across the State will benefit from additional teaching staff as more one-on-one attention and specialist assistance is provided in the classroom."

Comments attributed to Treasurer Ben Wyatt:

"In this financial year alone, we have committed $7.66 million which will ensure our teachers receive the support they need to provide the best possible learning experiences for their students.

"Today's announcement means there will be greater education resources in public schools - which the McGowan Labor Government is dedicated to delivering."