62% report teacher shortage

Teachers have reported a severe shortage of casual teachers in many NSW communities. The results of a survey posted to a randomly selected group of teachers across NSW demonstrate that the problem is severe.

62% of the respondents (1113 teachers) reported that their school was not always able to find a casual teacher. This means that if a teacher is absent because of illness or any other reason, then students have their education disrupted.

In these cases children have to be supervised in a large group with great disruption to lessons.

The NSW Government needs to staff our schools properly. Many areas of the state can't find casual or permanent teachers now. Those same areas will find it even harder to find permanent teachers as the government's staffing changes start to bite.

Local reports

Ms Susan Greaves, Teacher/President, Camden-Campbelltown Association

"A lot of schools in this area have extreme difficulty getting casual teachers when, for example, someone rings in sick. We are dreading this winter as last winter was terrible. There are great schools here but because they are in a Department of Housing area, casual teachers often don't want to come here. Of course, we are not incentive transfer schools, so the staffing situation can only get worse. I would say to the Minister, you tell me there are plenty of teachers out there who want to teach in disadvantaged areas. Where are these teachers? Give us their names and our schools will be in touch."

Mr Andrew Rodgers, Teacher/President, Narrabri/Wee Waa Association

"The situation at Wee Waa High School is dreadful. In the maths department, there have been problems with the full time teaching position for some time. This has reached a crisis point when the new maths teacher walked out after a week in term 2. There has been no replacement and the school has not been able to find a casual teacher. Other teachers are teaching many hours of extras. Where are the maths teachers who want to teach in this area Minister?"

Ms Sonja-Gai Honeysett, Teacher/President, Condobolin Association

"Disruption to lesson delivery is a daily occurrence here in Condobolin. We are desperate for casual and temporary staff. My biggest fear is that it will only get worse now that the Iemma government has enforced its poor staffing policies upon our rural and isolated community. Without an industrial instrument to protect incentive transfer, teachers believe our transfers are next to go. We've never had so many teachers want to leave all at once."

Survey results as at 16 May 2008

Q. Always able to find casual teacher

Yes - 698

No - 1113

Total - 1811

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Last Modified: 18 May 2008