NSW teachers warn shortages loom without more prep time

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 21:32 · Archive

The NSW Teachers Federation warns that excessive unpaid work is pushing educators toward leaving the profession.

The NSW Teachers Federation is warning that excessive unpaid work outside school hours threatens to cause a statewide teacher shortage. Teachers spend early mornings and Sunday evenings on preparation, marking and administrative tasks that cannot be completed during their allocated time.

A survey of 1,400 union members found about 85 per cent of NSW teachers have considered leaving the profession because of insufficient preparation time. Primary teachers receive two hours a week—24 minutes a day—to speak to parents, write disciplinary reports and amend lesson plans for students with additional learning needs. According to the survey, securing additional allocated hours would incentivise a similar proportion of teachers to stay.

Josh Gonzales, a 30-year-old secondary teacher from the Illawarra region, said he has come close to leaving "a couple of times on the bad days". He told AAP that many colleagues have confided similar struggles. Teachers responding to the survey said they felt the complexity of student requirements had grown significantly since they began teaching, and that more preparation time would allow them to better address these needs. The NSW Teachers Federation president Henry Rajendra said the results could not be ignored.

How it is being reported

• Warning teacher shortages loom without more prep timeUnpaid work is pushing one state's educators to the brink, new findings suggest, as a government is pressured to reduce their teaching hours.Perth Now · 20 Oct, 21:02
• Warning teacher shortages loom without more prep timeUnpaid work is pushing one state's educators to the brink, new findings suggest, as a government is pressured to reduce their teaching hours.The West Australian · 20 Oct, 21:02

In this story: NSW Teachers Federation · Josh Gonzales · Henry Rajendra · NSW · Illawarra

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