THE Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) is working on rectifying the gender imbalance in classrooms by trying to attract teachers – both male and female – who view teaching as a vocation.
The commission’s executive director, Joe McCorley, denied media reports that the commission intended to defy the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HREOC) in a bid to attract more males to the profession.
It was reported that the QCEC planned to discriminate in favour of men in addressing a gender imbalance among teachers, and that its plan defied an HREOC ruling on discrimination in NSW.
The HREOC on March 3 rejected a request by the Sydney Catholic Education Office (CEO) for a temporary exemption from the Sex Discrimination Act (1984) to allow it to offer primary teacher training scholarships that gave preferential treatment to male applicants.
Mr McCorley said he had not indicated the QCEC would defy the ban imposed by the HREOC but had expressed his disappointment at the decision, in light of the fact there was an unequal gender balance in the teaching profession.
‘We’re looking at attracting more people with a vocation. That’s what makes our schools different.’
Sydney CEO executive director of schools, Marist Brother Kelvin Canavan, said the office would seek a review of the HREOC decision, and it would present fresh data.
Br Canavan said the CEO had received strong public support since the HREOC had rejected its application.
