More teachers walk off job over school staffing crisis

TFED

NSW Teachers Federation members at Merriwa Central School in the Upper Hunter have taken industrial action today and walked off the job over significant staffing problems.

NSW Teachers Federation Deputy President Henry Rajendra said staff were angry about a range of staffing issues, including numerous teachers being forced to teach classes outside their areas of qualification because of the chronic shortage of teachers.

“The school is unable to back-fill a qualified science teacher position and there are constant shortages of casual teachers,” Mr Rajendra said.

“On top of that Merriwa Central School has been unable to spend its Covid staffing supplement because there simply aren’t local teaching staff to employ.

“Over the past decade the NSW Government and the Education Department have weakened previously successful processes that ensured adequate staffing of all schools across the state,” Mr Rajendra said.

“The NSW Government has let down students, parents and the wider community by failing to provide teachers for every student and every class.”

“The Education Department have known of the dire teacher shortage for some time but failed to address the problem. It is grossly unfair for students, and in many cases, those with the most complex learning needs.”

“We are hearing of unfilled teacher positions at schools in metropolitan Sydney and regional schools right across the state.”

“The recommendations of Valuing the Teaching Profession

/Public Release.