DETE reveals plans for master teacher

DETE has provided the negotiators with a draft position description (PD) regarding master teacher.

The PD is closely aligned to that of literacy and numeracy coaches and heads of curriculum in primary and special schools. The key distinction is that DETE has included a requirement for a master teacher to hold a Masters in education or teaching.

The QTU has rejected this requirement, as it undermines the current classification structure. We have also advised DETE that, in terms of the Recruitment and Selection Directive, the following applies:

“Mandatory qualification means a qualification that is essential for the occupant of a role to hold in order to comply with an industrial instrument or to satisfy legal, accreditation or registration requirements or where a chief executive determination has been made. A chief executive may make a determination in relation to any role within their agency, provided that before making a determination (and where applicable) the chief executive consults with any agencies that have roles identical or substantially similar to that proposed to have mandatory qualifications attached and with the CCE of the PSC.”

Given that similar roles exist within the classification structure and the award that currently do not require the qualification, the QTU finds the requirement for both a Masters qualification and an EST classification as not essential to the role.

Kate Ruttiman
Deputy General Secretary

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 119 No 6, 22 August 2014, p9