NSW Deputy Premier and Education and Early Learning Minister Prue Car (right) said the Labor Government had been elected on a mandate to fix the state’s teacher shortage. Photo: Prue Car.
A new four-year plan to transform public education in NSW has been released as a survey by the state’s Education Department outlined the scale of the teacher shortage.
Developed after consultation with an estimated 20,000 people in the NSW education community, Our Plan for NSW Public Education is intended to provide a clear direction for transforming the state’s school system and improving student outcomes. A focus of the plan is on attracting and retaining high-quality teachers, especially in high-need locations and specialist subject areas.
The focus comes as a new first-of-its kind survey by the NSW Department of Education gathering data on the extent and impact of the teacher shortage in public schools was released. The survey found almost 10,000 daily lessons did not have adequate instruction due to an average daily shortfall of 3000 casual teachers or almost half the number of teachers required to meet demand.
In primary schools, 40 per cent of teacher-less lessons resulted in merged or collapsed classes, while almost 30 per cent of these lessons in high schools were given minimal supervision.
Most NSW schools reported a shortage of casual teachers on a given day, with parts of Sydney’s west and south-west, rural and remote areas and schools for specific purposes worst affected.
Reported flow-on effects of the shortage included the cancellation of library lessons, programs providing additional support to those most in need and time set aside for professional development.
NSW Deputy Premier and Education and Early Learning Minister Prue Car said the Minns Labor Government had been elected on a mandate to address the teacher shortage issue head-on.
“This survey lays bare the extent of the crisis that the former Liberal National government denied and ignored while they claimed teachers weren’t working hard enough to get a pay rise,” she said.
“It is vital for a child’s education that they have a qualified teacher in front of them for every lesson and that is what we’re working towards.”
The Government said steps had also been taken to reduce teacher workload, deliver teachers a pay rise, make temporary staff permanent and attract more teachers to high-demand areas.
The new education plan also includes several student-based commitments. These include setting high educational expectations for students, improving student wellbeing and engagement with school, as well as literacy and numeracy outcomes, and increasing the proportion of students both enrolled in preschool and those going into university, training and work after school.
“Every child in NSW deserves an outstanding education, which is the driving ambition behind our plan to rebuild public education in NSW and make public schools the first choice for families,” Deputy Premier Car said. “By addressing teacher shortages and delivering high-quality, evidence-based learning, we will ensure all our students receive the best possible education.”
Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar welcomed the new plan as an opportunity to build on foundations of high-quality teaching and learning, equity and wellbeing.
“Our vision recognises diversity makes us better and students perform best when they feel valued, are cared for and have everything they need to achieve success,” he said.
