Vic: Call to increase class sizes

00-00-0000
Vic: Call to increase class sizes

MELBOURNE, Aug 7 AAP - Victorian high school class sizes could be increased to up to100 students under a radical idea by a senior educator.

Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Andrew Blair said todayschools should consider combining VCE classes into one university-style large class.

The call comes as state and territory leaders of the Australian Education Union meetin Melbourne to discuss recent government pay offers, the teacher shortage and class sizes.

In a proposal that goes against the conventional case for smaller classes, Mr Blairsaid teachers could deliver lectures on particular subjects before dividing the classinto small tutorial groups for "follow-up work."

"There needs to be more discussion on the automatic assumption that class sizes of25 are the best way," Mr Blair said.

Mr Blair said a similar format was underway in English schools, where teachers wererelieved of "mundane" tasks and teaching assistants, such as interns, parents and volunteers,work with the students in small groups.

"I'm advocating we consider this idea to allow teachers to do more of the core importantwork," he said.

Overall teaching numbers would not be reduced, with senior school teachers freed toteach years Seven to Ten, allowing for smaller classes in the junior year levels, he said.

Mr Blair said seminar-style classes and individualised tutoring could also help studentsbecome more autonomous and better prepare them for university.

Education Minister Lynne Kosky said the Bracks government had spent millions of dollarsin lowering class sizes and it was not about to change.

"I can't see how reducing student-teacher ratios will achieve a better result," she said.

Victorian opposition education spokesman Victor Perton said state schools needed tobe given the flexibility and the authority to teach in ways that they consider best.

"Sadly it appears that union rules and bureaucratic guidelines carry more weight withLynne Kosky than the learning needs of children," Mr Perton said.

AAP svm/gfr/lb/jlw

KEYWORD: CLASS VIC