Federation’s new campaign to win two hours of additional release time per week for public school teachers kicked off on Saturday, with members turning out in force for the official campaign launch at Teachers Federation House in Surry Hills.
More than 18,000 members took part in our recent survey. What they told us was hugely concerning and demonstrates the urgent need for additional release time:
- only 15 per cent of teachers have enough time for lesson planning,
- fewer than 1 in 10 have time to collaborate with colleagues,
- and just 7 per cent have adequate time for curriculum programming.
Federation President Henry Rajendra said: “Fewer than 1 in 20 teachers say they have enough time to do the work required to meet the needs of today’s students.”
“It’s not just teachers sounding the alarm. Parents know this is a serious problem and want it fixed so that their kids get a teacher who has had the time to plan for the needs of their students.”
Teachers Associations (TAs) across NSW will be asked to join the campaign, in accordance with a resolution adopted at Federation’s February Council meeting. Local organisers will be given “electorate-level findings of the statewide preparation time survey” and encouraged to contact local media to raise the campaign’s profile.
Teachers around the state have made it clear: additional preparation time is crucial to giving students the quality education they need. Letting teachers properly plan their lessons is vital to stay on top of increasing workloads, avoid burnout and keep teachers in the classroom where they do their best work.
“When teachers are given more time to prepare, they’re better supported, more likely to stay in the profession doing what they love, and able to deliver the high-quality learning every young person deserves,” Newcastle TA member Hannah Archer Lawton said.
Milton-Ulladulla TA President Lily Dale agrees: “I love my job. I need more time to adequately know each and every student and how they learn — and have the time to prepare lessons so that our children are getting what they need to thrive.”
Moree TA member Trang Dao said: “As a Science teacher, an additional two hours would allow me to ensure my learners could experience consistent high quality practical lessons.”