Teacher shortages covered up

Federation calls for 1,000 additional permanent teachers and retention of the statewide transfer system.

Ten percent of teachers who responded to a survey conducted in May have an oversize class and over 20% of secondary teachers have been forced to teach outside their subject area.

These results indicate that we need more teachers in the system. The Federation is calling for at least 1,000 more permanent teachers for a range of initiatives.

Unfortunately, the State Government's phasing out of the statewide transfer system will, as the teacher shortage hits, make it even harder to staff some schools than is currently the case.

The statewide teacher transfer system encouraged teachers to move to areas of the state that are more difficult to staff. Phasing out that transfer system will mean that many teachers will no longer be willing to make the move.

Schools that are difficult to staff may not be able to attract sufficient teachers just as then Education Minister, Carmel Tebbutt, warned two weeks before the 2007 State Election. Those school communities will be facing the prospect of rising class sizes or more secondary teachers filling in the gaps by teaching outside their subject area.

The Federation has notified the NSW Industrial Relations Commission that it intends to run an award case to protect the current class size ratios and school staffing entitlements.

Survey results as at 29 May 2008

The survey was conducted in May. It was mailed to 5,000 teachers, including principals, selected at random. Approximately 2,000 responses were received.

Secondary school results

1. If secondary, I am currently teaching all or part of the time outside the subject areas for which I am qualified

Yes 229

No 747

Total 976

2. I am currently teaching a class with more than 30 students

Yes 79

No 837

Total 916

3. I know of a class or classes at my school with more than 30 students

Yes 349

No 573

Total 922

Primary school results

1. I am currently teaching a class with more than 30 students

Yes 118

No 887

Total 1005

2. I know of a class or classes at my school with more than 30 students

Yes 521

No 494

Total 1015

For further information

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Last Modified: 02 Jun 2008