Andrew ‘Own Gohl’: Teachers union boss gets an F in brutal interview

The head of the teachers union has been branded Andrew “Own Gohl” in a heated radio interview over the impact of another strike on Year 12 students. Listen to the audio.

The president of the public teachers union has been taken to task in a fiery breakfast radio interview on Thursday morning.

Australian Education Union South Australia president Andrew Gohl was slammed in an interview with FIVEaa radio hosts David Penberthy and Will Goodings, in which the union boss was accused of ignoring the needs of Year 12 students about to undertake final exams.

On Wednesday, public school teachers warned they may strike again next month in a bid to pressure the state government to make a better offer on pay and conditions.

The Australian Education Union will ask its South Australian members to vote on whether to strike for a full day on Thursday, November 9, which is when students sit physics and accounting exams.

The union has given the government a deadline of November 6 to “make an acceptable offer”.

“So the kids who are about to do their Year 12 exams, they’ve just got to sort of fit in with your broader industrial agenda do they?” Penberthy said.

He went on to say that it would be another hurdle for students “after three years of Covid disruptions”.

Australian Education Union state president Andrew Gohl. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Gohl responded that the union was not “in the business of disadvantaging” Year 12 students and that enterprise bargaining negotiations had been ongoing for about 11 months.

“If there are teachers involved in supporting Year 12 students doing their exams then I’m sure we can work our way around that,” he said.

Penberthy then went on to accuse Mr Gohl of forgetting about exams when planning the strike.

“You haven’t even thought about this, have you?” Penberthy said.

However, Mr Gohl said the union had discussed the impact of potential strike action on Year 12 students.

FIVEaa radio host David Penberthy. Picture: Matt Loxton

But Penberthy would not relent and threw a sarcastic jab aimed at the union.

“You’re really winning hearts and minds with this one, aren’t you mate,” he said.

Mr Gohl said Penberthy lacked “perspective” on the issue and cited about 2500 students “who don’t have access to a full time teacher”.

Following the explosive interview, Penberthy labelled the AEU president “Andrew Own-Gohl”.

Mr Gohl, who is paid about $180,000, has confirmed he will step down as branch president next year, and voting is under way to elect his replacement.

There are three nominees for the president role – Mulga St Primary School deputy principal Matt Key, Jennie-Marie Gorman and Marika Marlow.

Voting is being conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission and closes on November 1.

Mr Gohl has said he will stay on until January when his successor will take over.

A former high school teacher, Mr Gohl has been branch president for about 18 months and also held the role in the mid-2000s.

The 57-year-old has not ruled out a return to the classroom after leaving the presidency, but a search of the Teacher’s Registration Board public register on Thursday showed there was no teacher with his name currently registered to work in SA.