The state government pledged to recruit an extra 250 teachers over six years for government schools as part of its election campaign in 2018.

Recruitment began in earnest with more than 600 applications received for the vacant positions.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said he was pleased with the response to the vacancies because it showed the high value people still placed on the teaching profession.

“People are embracing the opportunity to make what is, I think, the most significant way you can contribute to the future of your community," he said.

Mr Rockliff said the strong response to the vacancies mitigated some of the criticism being made of the government during the ongoing industrial action, that no one would want to work as a teacher in Tasmania.

The recruitment of the extra 250 teachers is expected to ease workload complaints made during the industrial action dispute.

Mr Rockliff said the teacher vacancies were the number one issue that was discussed at education round tables held throughout the year, and action taken was a coordinated approach. 

“For the first time ever we had a really good challenge before us to work towards teacher recruitment.”

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With schools in hiatus for the summer break, the selection process for the vacant positions has been completed and 91 applicants have found placement matches.

It is understood placement matches are now being finalised but are based on high needs areas and candidate preferences.

Schools who have extended to years 11 and 12 will need extra staff on board so they may be priority placement areas.

An Education Department spokesperson said the successful applicants were “of a very high standard” and have a range of experience levels. Applicants include current fixed-term staff and teachers from interstate.

Mr Rockliff said the unprecedented response to the vacancies showed the government’s investment in education was proving fruitful.

“As well as an impressive number of submissions, it is pleasing that a high number of candidates expressed interest in working in regional Tasmania,” he said.

“This, along with the broad cross-section of skills from applicants provides a high degree of confidence in our ability to place teachers with quality teaching practices and appropriate specialisations in schools throughout the state.”

In addition to the 250 extra teachers over six years, a current government wage proposal includes the recruitment of 90 extra specialist teachers, if it is accepted by the education union.

School returns for Term 1 for teachers on February 4 and for students on February 6. 

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