PLATO Media Release 21 June 2006 - for immediate release

Teachers reject new OBE "Reference Group"

PLATO spokesman Steve Kessell says the lobby group is disappointed with the composition of the Education Minister's new "Reference Group", established to oversee the "Compromise OBE Implementation" in Years 11 and 12.

It includes the:

Director General of the Department of Education and Training;
Acting CEO of the Curriculum Council;
Director of Catholic Education;
Executive Director of the Association of Independent Schools WA;
President of the State School Teachers Union; and
Secretary of the Independent Schools Union.

"These are the same people who, by not listening to teachers, created the original fiasco, that caused a crisis in Government, was rejected by teachers, and brought about this ill-advised "Compromise Plan," Kessell noted.

He asked: "Why should we think they'll do a better job this time?"

Kessell added: "St Hilda's Anglican Girls' School principal Joy Shepherd told The West Australian (20/6) that: 'If it's taken over again by the people who've been running it then we are not getting anywhere.' "

Kessell also stated that: "According to PLATO's online message forum, it appears that secondary teachers, unhappy with last weekend's State Teachers Union council decision, are resigning from the union in droves."

"Traffic on the PLATO website is at an all-time high, with 900 hits on the home page, and up to 150 new visitors, every day," Kessell said.