The Australian Education Union has slammed the funding for education in yesterday's state budget, saying the "record" 8 billion spend would do nothing to alleviate chronic staff shortages.
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Based on projected Tasmanian enrolment numbers, the AEU said a minimum of 169 teachers new full-time teachers would be needed by 2026.
The budget ignores this, said AEU Tasmania President David Genford.
"In short, hundreds of new teachers are required over the next few years and the government has offered no funding or plan to deal with this crisis," he said.
The above statistic doesn't include retiring teachers, or the high turnover of teachers leaving the profession, he said.
"Without future plans to employ more teachers and provide for more in-class support, we're going to be letting our students down," Mr Genford said.
"This government has blatantly ignored the ongoing stresses and untenable working conditions our educators are facing day in, day out.
"It was the educators in our schools that have helped us through COVID, but instead of being recognised, they have seemingly been forgotten about."
He said the AEU welcomed the increase to trauma and disability funding for students, but was disappointed there was "a lack of profession support from psychologists and social workers" for teachers.=
In the budget, $8 million was included over four years to support students impacted by trauma and for trauma-informed professional development for principals and lead teachers.
The program aims to support an additional 100 students every year, building on previous trauma services.
On the matter of TasTAFE, which received $135.5 million in funding, Mr Genford said he welcomed the investment, but that he was sceptical the government would be able to fulfill its plans of recruiting 100 extra teachers if it continued with its "privatisation plans and attacks on conditions".
Education Minister Sarah Courtney said the "record investment" into education, skills and training through this budget included support for "additional quality teaching coaches, professional support staff, school health nurses and support for students impacted by trauma".
"Since 2014, we have recruited 379 FTE additional teachers for our schools, and we are continuing to recruit more teachers," Ms Courtney said.
"A national teacher recruitment campaign is underway, with a focus on attracting teachers to work in regional and high-priority schools and specialisation subject areas across Tasmania."
She said 295 applications have been received by the Department of Education.
"Other strategies from the Action Plan to attract, train and develop quality teachers include: improving and expanding the Teacher Intern Placement Program which has seen an increase in eligible applications from 44 in 2020 to 71 in 2021; and 29 applicants undertaking the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher pilot which is co-ordinated approach to support teachers to progress their careers while remaining in the classroom, where they can have greatest impact on student learning."
Meg Whitfield
Journalist at the Advocate Newspaper, Burnie, proudly covering Tasmania's North-West and West Coast. Got a tip?
Journalist at the Advocate Newspaper, Burnie, proudly covering Tasmania's North-West and West Coast. Got a tip?
