Education’s $8m exodus

MORE than 360 Department of Education employees took a payout to leave at a cost of $8 million, a Budget estimates hearing heard.

The 367 workers chose to take the money under the State Government’s Workforce Renewal Incentive Program, or WRIP.

The average WRIP payment was just over $22,000.

Only 266 full-time equivalent staff were required to leave the department under Budget cuts announced by the State Government late last year.

It meant some of those who left were replaced, many by newer workers, the aim of the renewal program.

Many of the new staff were less experienced so also cost less to employ. Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff and senior department staff were grilled by members of the Legislative Council yesterday over budget and operations.

Mr Rockliff was the target of frustration expressed by some MLCs, especially over teacher and budget cuts.

Apsley MLC Tania Rattray raised concerns about hiring new, inexperienced staff while paying out those more experienced who could have guided them.

Elwick MLC Adriana Taylor read out comments she said were from a secondary school principal and indicative of the stress schools faced this year under cuts.

The principal spoke of bigger classes, difficulty finding staff and lack of support in finding teachers, and growing workloads of principals.

Mr Rockliff said he had had frank discussions with staff and also saw a lot of excitement when he visited schools.

“We’ve inherited a very serious budget situation from the previous government. we’ve had to make some difficult decisions,” Mr Rockliff said.

He said Gonski funding would be targeted at schools that needed it in disadvantaged areas.

The estimates committee yesterday was running behind and many of the questions from members for Mr Rockliff had to be cut short or put on notice, to be answered later.