Teachers punished for sex with students

A FEMALE teacher's sexual activity with a student at a party was among almost a dozen incidents to go before the Teachers Registration Board in one year.

There were 11 unprofessional conduct hearings between July 2010 and June 2011 - up from eight over the same period a year earlier.

The female teacher was given a serious reprimand and disqualified from being registered until further order for attending a formal after-party and engaging in sexual conduct with an 18-year-old male student.

In another, an experienced male teacher was disqualified permanently after developing inappropriate relationships over a long period with two female students, aged 17 and 18.

Board registrar Wendy Hastings said that since 2005 new legislation had meant the board received more information than in the past and could investigate a wider range of matters.

"Basically our role is to protect the public interest and to make sure teachers are fit and proper to teach," she said. "(But) I wouldn't read too much into that (the 11 hearings resulting in reprimand) because the proportion of that group as distinct from the total teachers registered is small."

Ms Hastings said teachers who were found guilty of unprofessional conduct but did not have their registration revoked were able to remain in the classroom as long as they met any conditions placed on them. In other Teachers Registration Board hearings:

A FORMERLY registered teacher was disqualified from being re-registered as a teacher until further order for conduct related to an attempt to engage a disabled male adult, for whom he had been the carer, in a sexual act.

A RELATIVELY inexperienced teacher was issued with a serious reprimand and her registration made subject to a condition that she complete a course in ethics in education following a breach of professional boundaries in her relationship with a 17-year-old male student.

Australian Education Union SA president Correna Haythorpe said new teachers especially faced challenges while establishing themselves in the profession. She said misconduct could have a "devastating effect" on careers and students involved.

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