Staffing crisis leaves HSC English class without a qualified teacher

Teachers Federation members at Willyama High School in Broken Hill have walked off the job over the teacher shortage which has left a HSC English class without a qualified teacher.

NSW Teachers Federation Deputy President Henry Rajendra said Willyama High has serious staffing problems with difficulty attracting and retaining teachers.

“This school is in one of the most remote areas of the state and the run down in staffing has left the Year 12 HSC English class without a teacher going into term three,” Mr Rajendra said.

“For students, this is the culmination of their school career, and they will be left severely disadvantaged by the staffing crisis.”

“There is a vacancy for an English Teacher at Willyama High that can’t be filled, and Year 12 students will be left to fend for themselves without a qualified teacher to take their class.”

“This is an appalling situation which should never have been allowed to happen.”

“There are casual teacher shortages and temporary teacher shortages at Willyama High that have turned 2021 into a disaster for students and staff.”

“They started the year without a Head Teacher, Science. That position had to be advertised three times.”

“The NSW government and Education Department have taken their eyes off the ball and forgotten schools like Willyama High.”

“The NSW Education Department must act to address the situation at this school and make sure Year 12 HSC students have a qualified English teacher in term three.”

Today’s action follows a similar walkout by teachers at Broken Hill High School over the teacher shortage last month.

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.”