Teachers and educators who face dismissal at Wellington Correctional Centre over NSW government changes to the prison education system say they are overwhelmed by the support of Western NSW communities.
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NSW Teachers Federation spokesperson Rob Long says communities are deeply concerned unqualified clerks will replace professional teachers. He led a protest meeting of about 30 people outside Wellington Correctional centre on Friday. He said education would beat crime anyday.
‘’Communities want prisoners to get quality education while they are here and be better suited for life outside or do you want them to be better criminals,’’
‘’There is evidence based proof a proper education will help prevent repeat offenders,’’ he said.
The group waved banners and talked with union organizers saying the senior educators will drop from 11 to 5. They say KPMG reports and the NSW Corrections Minister evulations of them was a total misread of the mood of how prisoners can be educated and return to communities.
Teachers at Wellington said the report was just a copy and paste to suit the government’s changes. Mr Long says the NSW industrial Commission is being made aware of the legal breaches of contract and he has warned the state government this could be a long fight. ‘’It appears to be a lazy process and bias. We will continue to fight to keep teacher jobs.Over 100 prison officers here support us, they know these offenders will get out one day and they want them to better people once they get out.education is critical.’’
The protesters said a NSW Minister and member for Goulburn Pru Goward is now backing them and State MP’s in Western NSW should get behind teachers and education and back local jobs.
‘’We want Dubbo Mp Troy Grant and Federal candidate for Calare Andrew Gee and Bathurst’s man Paul Toole to stand up for our teachers to keep them educating our prisoners. We will keep harassing them until they do.’’ he said.
