Goulburn hosts NSW Teachers Federation's rally against teacher shortages

The NSW Government has filled almost 5000 teaching positions for 2021, and since 2017, it has appointed more than 26,000 teachers.

New government figures reveal there are 13 unfilled teaching vacancies in the Southern Tablelands alone in October.

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There are four vacancies at Mulwaree High School, two at Goulburn South Public School and The Crescent School and one at Goulburn High School, Goulburn Public School, Goulburn North Public School, Tirranna Public School and Wollondilly Public School.

The NSWTF says that shows there isn't a qualified teacher in front of every single classroom, but the Department of Education has a different view.

They say schools regularly have vacancies for permanent positions.

Those positions are normally filled by temporary teachers while active recruitment is underway, but will still appear as a permanent vacancy.

"It is normal for schools and for a system of NSW's size.

In addition, the Department of Education recently added over 1500 assistant principal roles in all primary schools to assist with literacy and numeracy.

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The positions are currently being recruited and will appear as vacant.

The NSWTF is worried the state will run out of teachers in five years based on briefing notes from the NSW Department of Education.

The notes show a higher proportion of vacant positions are in country areas, teachers in country areas are far more likely to be teaching outside their subject area of expertise and vacant positions were taking up to four months to fill.

However, the Department of Education feels the situation is under control.

Whilst they say they are in no way going to run out of teachers, there is no doubt a strain on teacher supply not only in NSW but nation-wide.

As part of the School Success Model, a target has been set to reduce the administrative workload of teachers by 20 per cent because tbey want teachers to focus on what's most important: teaching.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said she felt teachers held one of the most vital roles in the community.

"The NSW Government is committed to improving strategies to achieve ongoing success in our education system," Mrs Tuckerman said.

"This includes meeting the needs of students, school communities and teachers, and of course, ensuring NSW public schools are always staffed by quality teachers."

There was a great turnout at the rally and among the attendees was NSWTF deputy president Henry Rajendra who felt the government wasn't doing enough on the teacher shortage situation.

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"If they don't act now, the teacher shortages will only get worse and it's country kids who will pay the price," Mr Rajendra said.

"Every year, teachers are asked to do more, but every year, their pay has fallen in comparison to other professions.

"The shortages are proof that if we don't pay teachers what they are worth, we don't get the teachers we need."

There was also a rally at Wagga Wagga, Nowra and Wollongong this week.

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