Time running out for smooth SACE transition

South Australian secondary teachers are angry, frustrated and increasingly worried that time is running out to achieve a smooth transition to Stage Two of the revised South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

The SACE Stage 1 introduction was something of a debacle and the AEU has been pressuring the Education Department to ensure better preparations are in place for next year's changes.

However AEU Vice President David Smith says many fear the Department's lack of action means history is about to repeat.

"There are unseemly delays and quite frankly we suspect we're being fobbed off".

"After expressing our concerns to the DECS Chief Executive, we were eventually given a meeting with officials on June 2nd. Following repeated requests we have belatedly received our first response – a page of dot points and a brief discussion that has failed to address the all important question of time for preparation. After three months, this is just not good enough!"

"There is considerable disquiet and concern that the Department is ill prepared and that Stage 2 will prove to be as big a mess as Stage 1."

"Educators are reluctant to jeopardise the learning environment for year 12 students at this crucial time in their education. That's why they want to know where they stand by the start of term four this year, so that they can begin the training and preparation required to ensure the change is effective – both for them and their students."

"But as it stands, there are no guarantees they'll be given time this year to do any meaningful planning around the way that work is assessed and moderated. The Department's elusive 2011 Funding Model remains unseen. Schools even face difficulties devising timetables!" Mr Smith says.

"Of serious concern is a new element, the Research Project, which requires students to conduct a six month project in which they must achieve at least a "C" to pass. Not only is this process and its assessment virtually untested, but teachers remain in the dark and many think their students will be unlikely to succeed without their support and guidance, yet teachers themselves have very little to go by."

An AEU survey of 147 teachers found almost 84% had issues with workload around SACE Stage 2, 75% had issues with excessive paperwork and 55% has problems with timetables. A further 54% reported staffing problems and nearly half are worried about the lack of information about subject outlines.

When asked whether they'd received adequate time to prepare Learning Assessment plans for SACE Stage 2, just 9% said they had. By contrast 67% felt they needed more time.

Also when asked whether they had any additional comments the message was clear – Teachers overwhelmingly want time to prepare, and they are worried about the lack of surety surrounding the moderation and planning of the research project. Many wanted an assurance that the introduction of SACE Stage 2 will be smoother than Stage 1.

"Sadly the lack of responsiveness and detail from the Department suggests we're headed for turmoil" Mr Smith says.