TEACHERS have been told the time they spend at school camps outside their allocated 38 hours a week - such as when students have ''free time'' - does not count as working hours.
Principals, parents and teachers are flabbergasted by the memo from the Education Department. The Australian Education Union said it was ''ridiculous'' and ''irresponsible'', given teachers are on duty full-time at camps.
School camps and excursions are expected to be cancelled this year as state school teachers ramp up their industrial campaign and refuse to work more than 38 hours a week from the first day of term one.
The union has vowed to proceed with the industrial action over pay and conditions, despite the government threatening to seek an injunction in the Federal Court if it is not called off by January 29.
However, an Education Department memo aimed at helping schools to ''minimise the negative impact'' of the action, said the work bans did not extend to attendance at camps and excursions.
The memo to principals, seen by Fairfax Media, encouraged schools to plan for camps and excursions for 2013 ''as per usual''.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/school-camp-time-not-work-20130122-2d5d1.html#ixzz2IlXkM...
