Suspended and disqualified teachers: PV media comment

The Herald-Sun reported today that “Teachers are being dumped from classrooms at an alarming rate…” The article states that over 70 teachers have been suspended or disqualified by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) since 2019. The reasons included sex, drug and violence offences.

The article quotes a VIT spokeswoman as saying that new levels of community awareness and increased powers had contributed to improving child safety.

PV Executive Officer Gail McHardy is quoted in the article. Gail said the register was important to protect children. “The royal commissions have taught us to do it better in the future. So it’s important their safety is paramount and the regulator is given the job to do what they have to do,” Ms McHardy said.

• Read the Herald-Sun article (paywall protected: you can read it if you have a subscription.)
• See the VIT Register of Disciplinary Actions  (PDF download, opens in new tab)

New rules around teacher-student relationships

In related news, the new VIT Code of Conduct for teachers, which comes into force next term, will ban sexual relationships between teachers and former students for two years after the student leaves school. VIT has taken this action after the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry in Victoria and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse highlighted the risk of ‘grooming’ by teachers.

• Read the Age article