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‘ Among the least favourable ’
Bullying and intimidation rampant in schools , OECD report shows
By Eleanor Campbell
Australia ’ s teachers are working longer hours with less pay and face high rates of truancy , bullying and intimidation among students , according to a major international report .
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) recently published a policy outlook on Australia ’ s education system .
The analysis , which drew from the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment ( PISA ) index , highlighted a raft of issues facing schools nationwide , including increasing instances of bullying , lack of engagement and intimidation .
“ The disciplinary climate in schools in Australia was among the least favourable in the OECD ,” the report read .
“[ Around ] 37 per cent of Australian lowersecondary school principals reported that intimidation or bullying among students occurs at least weekly .”
The report noted that students in Australia expressed receiving higher levels of support and enthusiasm from their teachers compared to their global counterparts .
It also said instances of poor behaviour must be addressed due to its impact on academic outcomes , well-being and increased teacher attrition .
Student truancy was reportedly higher in Australia than the global average , with one-in-three teenagers reporting to have skipped at least one day of school every two weeks .
The report also noted that teaching conditions in Australian schools included higher-than-average net teaching hours and slightly less competitive salaries compared to other similarly educated jobs .
In 2021 , teachers in Australia reported having taught for 860 hours at a primary level , 838 hours at a lower-secondary level , and 839 hours at an upper-secondary level . The global OECD average was 784 in primary , 711 in lower secondary , and 684 in upper secondary . ■
Quick strategies
Education experts react to OECD findings .
By Emilie Lauer
Listening to teachers , making time for their professional development , incentives and system changes will be needed to address workloads , educators ’ attrition rates and the lack of respect for the profession .
Following the release of the latest OECD , education experts have urged the government to address students ’ poor behaviours , lack of engagement ,
excessive workload and teacher shortages .
Monash University education lecturer Dr Fiona Longmuir said new policies should be rolled out in consultation with teachers to address heavy workloads .
“ Australian students and teachers are in need of positive learning environments that support them to feel that they belong and that they are empowered ,” Dr Longmuir said .
“ The OECD report adds to the evidence that policy and system-level changes are urgently needed to address teacher workloads , as well as address a lack of respect for , and trust in , the profession .
“ If teaching is to be an attractive and sustainable career in our country , we need to keep listening to the voices of teachers about how schools can meet the needs of their communities and how we provide equitable resources and support to enable them to do this .”
According to the Director of the Centre for Research in Educational and Social Inclusion ( CRESI ) at the University of South Australia , Professor Anna Sullivan , developing teachers ’ classroom management skills will be necessary to tackle students ’ poor behaviours .
“ The key is to focus on professional learning that supports schools and teachers to prevent student behaviour issues , de-escalate students ’ behaviour , and intervene in ways that prevent recurrence ,” Professor Sullivan said .
“ Quick reactionary disciplinary strategies should be avoided . Research is clear that responding to student behaviours with sanctions does not work in the long run .
“ Australia needs schools that entice students to attend and supports students to engage in education in productive ways .”
The report also highlighted that Australian teachers worked on average 100 hours more than their OECD counterparts for less pay .
Monash University Associate Professor Chandravadan Shah said long- and shortterm incentives would help teachers stay in the classroom longer .
“ The supply of teachers is affected by economic factors like the very low overall unemployment rate , the spiking cost of living , and labour shortages in many other sectors [ and that ] make them more likely to change careers and try out something different ,” Mr Shah said . ■
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