There are a number of strategies in place to keep graduate teachers in Tasmania, Deputy Secretary Corporate Services, Andrew Finch, said today.

“Partnerships in Teaching Excellence (PiTE) is a collaborative and innovative approach to support high quality teaching in Tasmania through the whole cycle – from pre-service to early career and beyond,” Mr Finch said.

“As part of the partnership between the Department of Education and the University of Tasmania, second year Bachelor of Teaching students are mentored by experienced Department of Education teachers.

“In addition, students selected for the program receive a HECS repayment for the Bachelor of Teaching component of their studies and, on the satisfactory completion of their studies, an offer of a permanent position with the Department of Education.

“Where a teacher has completed six continuous and complete school terms of satisfactory teaching (as a fixed term employee), the teacher then becomes a permanent replacement teacher (PRT) and has ongoing employment.

“A total of 64 graduates have been employed as teachers in the Department of Education in 2011, of which there are 24 Bachelor of Teaching graduates of the 2010 PiTE program.

“Many graduates start the year as relief teachers and then win ongoing positions during the first school term.

“The Department makes merit-based employment decisions and beginning teachers are also appointed on merit with the skills and qualifications of the beginning teacher needing to match the needs of the teaching position.

“Students must have a Limited Authority to Teach issued by the Teachers Registration Board before they can be employed.

“The PRT process has been in place since 2006.”