NSW school staffing crisis hits Maitland Public School

Teachers Federation members at Maitland Public School have walked off the job over the negative impact the state-wide teacher shortage is having on their school.

NSW Teachers Federation Deputy President Henry Rajendra said staff walked out today over the failure of the NSW Government to properly staff public schools and the disruption caused to their school when colleagues are on leave.

“Classes are being split and teaching and learning programs are disrupted when casual teachers are unavailable because of the state-wide teacher shortage,” Mr Rajendra said.

“Maitland Public School has been unable to cover numerous classes of absent colleagues and our members have voted to take further action unless the NSW Government acts to resolve the teacher shortage.”

“Staff at Maitland have recognised that it is a fundamental human right for children, no matter what their circumstances to have a quality education. Central to this, is the right of every class to have an appropriately qualified teacher.”

Mr Rajendra said the Gallop Inquiry into the work of teachers found earlier this year that uncompetitive salaries for teachers and unsustainable workloads are leading to teacher shortages.”

“The workloads of teachers have increased every year, but their salaries have fallen every year compared to other professions.”

“You can’t fix the shortages without fixing the wages and workload problem.”

“If we don’t pay teachers what they are worth, we won’t get the teachers we need.”