Defending the Dubbo College model the Department of Education and Training (DET) and college management said they had been aware of the particular challenges presented by the multi-campus model since it emerged as the preferred direction for education in Dubbo.

Teachers who want to remain anonymous over fears they “potentially risk a departmental code of conduct warning” have told the Daily Liberal of what they believe are the flaws in the system.

They would not reveal their campus or the subjects they teach.

One teacher said the current structure of the split campus system had led to an instability of staffing at the three campuses for a number of years.

Teachers fear the situation will worsen without a progression to the three Year 7-12 campuses.

“All staff are unable to access Year 7-12 teaching each year,” the teacher said.

“This is an equity issue in which Dubbo College teachers are worse off than the rest of NSW secondary teachers.”

A DET spokesperson said teachers were appointed to Dubbo College, not a particular campus.

“Not all teachers in any school teach classes in every grade every year,” they said.

“The processes and protocols emphasised at Dubbo College, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding between the union and department, ensure that over a period of time, any teacher who wants to have the experience of teaching the full range of classes for which they are qualified.”

Another teacher said teachers at the Senior Campus had less behaviour issues and are de-skilled in behaviour management strategies.

“To ensure the teachers of Dubbo College are not de-skilled further, we need to have three 7 - 12 campuses, which will allow for greater engagement and continuity for our students, as well as preserving and developing the skills of our teachers,” the teacher said.

And a third teacher said the parents also deserved the right for a choice.

“We need to have the 7 - 12 choice in Dubbo or otherwise their child has to go to the private system or relocate to neighbouring towns ... to get a choice of another public secondary cchool.”

The DET spokesperson said that according to college principals, experience demonstrated the majority of staff who sought a transfer after three years experience at a campus gain a transfer, and generally in the first year requested, with the remainder in the following year. They feel that there is a growing understanding of the rotation principle between campuses, with an increasing number of staff seeking transfer from the senior to junior campuses.

“The college and the Teachers Federation have a Memorandum of Understanding to allocate teachers and executive staff to campuses to provide equity in teacher access to teaching Year 7-12.

“Last week, the NSW Teachers Federation accepted an offer to extend the memorandum, which covers staffing and resourcing of multi-campus colleges, until January 2010,” the spokesperson said.