The peak teachers’ union of NSW has slammed the Education Department’s cutting of 276 teaching positions as “incoherent and illogical”, saying it the decision, which comes at a time when the state is experiencing massive teaching shortages, will do little to improve student outcomes.
The Department informed teachers from the non-school based teaching service of the decision, which has been described internally as an exercise in operations and efficiency. However, the NSW Teachers Federation says it is “yet to see any rationale or evidence” for how this will improve educational outcomes for students.
“To cut teaching positions in the midst of a teacher shortage is incoherent and illogical,” said Henry Rajendra, President of the NSW Teachers Federation. “In the midst of the worst teacher shortage in living memory, teachers are already grappling with a crushing workload, and this will make it worse.”
Rajendra said non-school based teachers perform critical work in areas such as teacher professional learning to support the implementation of the curriculum and warned the job losses will “fall back to schools”, which he said do not have the necessary resources or time.
“The Department of Education is responsible for providing every teacher in every school with high quality professional learning and curriculum support in order to meet the learning needs of all students,” he said. “The cuts proposed are the antithesis to this.”
To make matters worse, said Rajendra, the Department is allowing only two weeks for consultation on the proposed change.
“This is a time when every effort must be made to rebuild the NSW public school system after years of damage caused by the previous government’s failed Local Schools, Local Decisions devolutionary policy. Cutting positions will only hinder this necessary rebuild,” he said.
“The Department needs to pause and reconsider this decision. Our schools need greater support, not cuts.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said the government is doing everything it can to address the teacher shortage.
"This includes putting more of our expert teachers back in front of classrooms where they are most needed," Car told The Educator. “The Department’s proposed changes will make it easier for schools to get the support they need while removing duplication and ensuring more teachers are doing their vital work of teaching classes in our schools."
Car said there are already positive signs from the steps the Government has taken to date to improve teacher pay and conditions, with a 24% drop at the start of this term compared to last year.
“There is more to do to ensure every student has a qualified teacher at the front of the classroom, and we are hard at work to get it done.”