Government cost cutting hits student enrolments

Government cost cutting in schools across NSW has created a crisis in student enrolments due to a lack of proper training for office staff.

New software has been supplied to schools to manage student enrolments, but the Department of Education and Training has told the Public Service Association that they forgot to factor staff training into the budget.

"Administration staff in schools have been thrown in the deep end with this new software, given no ongoing training and virtually no support when they need it.

"The Department has made this dodgy software on the cheap and distributed it to schools without any thought to the training and support that staff require," said PSA President Sue Walsh.

The PSA said bans have been imposed on processing student enrolments and transfers until the Department delivers adequate training to all school administration staff.

"School enrolments have been made more difficult due to this software, which the Department is constantly changing and attempting to upgrade.

"Without face to face training for all staff delivered by professional trainers, and improved response to help-desk requests, staff will continue to impose the bans.

"Student enrolments and annual reports will not be processed until the Department delivers effective training and troubleshooting assistance," said Ms Walsh.

The bans will affect new student enrolments and the implementation of other administrative processes.

Related Story: Daily Telegraph website: Ban on public school enrolments