Teacher shortages continue to be a huge issue for public and private schools in the Hunter, according to the union’s regional organiser Jack Galvin Waight.
New government data recently revealed there were more than 2,400 vacant permanent positions at the start of Term 4 in NSW, an increase of almost 150% since June last year.
NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said the latest figures, coupled with alarming research showing two thirds of educators feel burnt out, underlined the extent of the classroom crisis.
“Children are missing out and teachers are burning out because of the shortages,” he stated.
Disturbingly, 28.5 teacher positions are vacant across 28 schools in the Charlestown electorate, 21.6 (across 26 schools) throughout the state seat of Wallsend and a further 17.9 (across 19 schools) within Newcastle.
In Maitland, the number sits at 23.4 across 20 educational facilities.
The Upper Hunter is badly affected, too.
There are 37.3 teaching positions vacant across 42 schools.
“Local educators have been going above and beyond to ensure that every child gets a high-quality education,” Mr Galvin Waight said.
“But, they are being let down by the Perrottet government.
“Unsustainable workloads and uncompetitive salaries have reduced the attractiveness of the profession and made it impossible to attract and retain the teachers we need in our region.
“The Premier must come out here and tell parents and teachers why his government is not prepared to invest in teachers and stop these shortages.
“Across NSW we have seen a huge jump in teacher vacancies since the government released its Teacher Supply Strategy.
“A parliamentary inquiry found 60% of teachers want to leave in the next five years because the crippling workload and poor salaries don’t reflect their efforts or responsibilities.”
Mr Galvin Waight said the number of early career teachers leaving public schools was also at a 13-year high.
“The decision by the government to cap pay increases at 2.53% a year for three years when inflation is 7.3% and rising defies their own research that shows the salaries of teachers are a major reason why the number of people studying to become a teacher has plummeted,” he added.
“You can’t fix the problem without fixing the wages and workloads.
“The March election will be a vital test of which party has a plan to address the real causes of the shortages and secure the teachers we need in our area for the future.”
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