400 public schools could close or run limited programs during next teachers’ strike on Monday

Several hundred schools will close or run limited programs during next Monday’s strike.

The fate of Year 7 teachers who do not want to move into high schools is one of the issues that has led to next Monday’s strike, which could see up to 400 schools close or run limited programs, the education union says.

But Treasurer Rob Lucas says Year 7 teachers need not worry because the Government was forecasting the need for an extra 1385 teachers and support staff in the next few years to cope with enrolment growth, and many of those would be in primary schools.

The Australian Education Union has rejected Mr Lucas’ call for teachers to postpone their rallies until the school holidays, which would avoid disruption to parents and students.

The fate of Year 7 teachers who do not want to move into high schools is one of the issues that has led to next Monday’s strike.

AEU state president Howard Spreadbury, pictured, said the union wanted smaller class sizes and more support staff, plus a better pay rise than 2.35 per cent.

He told The Advertiser the Government was pushing for changes that would put Year 7 teachers at risk of redundancy if they declined to move when the year level is shifted into high schools in 2022. Once they were in high schools, teachers might be made to take classes up to Year 10, he said.

About 540 teachers would be affected by the Year 7 shift. Mr Spreadbury said some would be happy to move to high schools and others would be find alternative primary school positions, but a proportion of jobs would be vulnerable.

Mr Lucas said that was not the case, and the Government was willing to agree on wording in a new enterprise agreement to put the issue to bed.

Mr Lucas said the pay offer would not change but other matters were up for negotiation. The union’s argument that teachers were being lured interstate by higher pay was a “furphy”. Parents are likely to be informed of closures today.