Carr ignores teacher shortage

Due to government failure over many years to address the problem of 
teacher shortages in NSW, shortages have become a normal and permanent 
feature of the state education system.

In recent weeks, the daily papers have reported of "a chronic casual 
teacher shortage".

The Teachers' Federation highlighted the shortage of both casual and 
permanent teachers in the lead up to the recent State Budget. Yet, the 
Budget did not redress this situation.

In most cases, the Budget will make things much worse. For example, student 
numbers are expected to increase by 1,089 in secondary schools, but there 
will be a reduction in full-time equivalent staffing of 66.

In TAFE it is estimated that enrolments will increase by 10,700, but staff 
numbers will decline by 3.6 per cent, or 630 full-time equivalent 
positions.

These cuts will add to the existing problem of teacher shortages.

On June 4, the Teachers' Federation issued a statement, Teacher Shortage 
With Us Now.

"Schools throughout the State are already experiencing severe difficulties 
in obtaining both permanent and casual teachers", said the statement.

"The shortage of casual teachers is exacerbated by the fact that so many of 
them are being used to fill positions which should be filled by permanent 
teachers.

"Experienced casual teachers filling these positions are paid up to $10,000 
a year less than the experienced teacher in the next classroom, although 
they are doing exactly the same job."

On June 30, it was reported in the press that, due to a "chronic casual 
teacher shortage", special classes for disadvantaged pupils were routinely 
being cancelled. Specialist teachers were having to take over mainstream 
classes without teachers.

A survey of 60 primary schools in Sydney's west by the Public Schools 
Principals' Forum found 268 occasions in the first two months of term when 
special lessons for disadvantaged pupils were cancelled.

The Forum's President, Brian Chudleigh, called on the State Government to 
conduct a statewide survey to discover the full extent of the problem.

Teachers' salaries are overdue for re-negotiation since their Award expired 
on June 30.

The Budget made no allowance salary increases, and, as already mentioned, 
will place further strain on teachers by increasing student numbers while 
reducing the number of full-time teachers.

This is a disincentive to highly skilled young people considering a career 
teaching in a public school.

Teacher shortage is a very real issue. The State Government is resisting 
any increase in funding to public education, continues to pour money into 
elite private schools, and says there is a "need for greater efficiencies 
in an increasingly competitive ... environment" — politik speak for 
cutting public education to make way for more private schools and colleges.