Page 3479 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 23 November 2021
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Since then, the Australian Education Union has released its report. We knew things were bad; we knew that things were tough on the front lines of our schools. But we did not know quite how bad things were. If you listened to the Greens and the Labor Party, everything was just hunky-dory. But what the union revealed—and what had been kept secret from the community by the minister, and the Greens, backing her up at every step along the way—is that things are very difficult within our education system.
Let me give some results from the survey. Ninety-one per cent of schools say they are negatively impacted by lack of staff; 95 per cent of teachers think that these shortages are serious; 85 per cent believe that the directorate does not have the resources necessary to meet demand; and 98 per cent of teachers in our government schools—98 per cent, Mr Assistant Speaker—believe that staff shortages are undermining their ability to deliver high-quality education. Meanwhile, the Labor Party and the Greens come to this place and say: “Everything is hunky-dory! Nothing to see here. No, we do not need a review.”
The lack of resources has led to split and modified classes, and 97 per cent of teachers surveyed believe that students are being disadvantaged under the mob opposite, under the Labor Party and the Greens, who say that it is all good. Ninety-seven per cent of teachers think that shortages are undermining their ability to deliver high-quality education. The lack of resources has led to a range of other problems, including low morale, unsafe workplaces, fear of actual violence, burnout for teachers, and compromised learning for students.
Let me give some quotes from teachers under this government and what they are saying. Relief staff say:
“We really need to treat relief staff with the value and respect they deserve as they are actually fully-fledged teachers in their own right.”
“The school I am employed at has stated that we do not have a budget to pay for relief staff therefore splitting classes is our only option.”
Shame!
On safety:
The staff shortage needs to be fixed as soon as possible. I believe that the longer that this need is not met the more teachers will burn out, further exacerbating the problem.
That is under this government, Mr Assistant Speaker!
On split classes:
Often up to four classes per day were split, resulting in ‘classes’ over 40+ students, which contributed directly to … occupational violence—particularly as students with special needs were forced to work with teachers (and students) they did not know well.
(Second speaking period taken.)
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