‘They don’t know if they’re not going to have a teacher’: No replacements for sick teachers leave students in the lurch

A spike in Covid cases has left principals scrambling to find replacements, with classrooms having to be split and specialist classes postponed.

Schools in South Australia have been forced to cancel classes and split up classrooms as hundreds of teachers are sick with Covid with no one to replace them.

There were about 250 staff at public schools sick with Covid last week, with principals scrambling to find relief teachers.

Among those presenting with flu systems were teachers at Nairne School, which sent a letter to parents notifying them of changes to classes.

“Specialist classes like STEM, music and PE have been rescheduled so we can reallocate teachers to cover classes,” the letter said.

“When this can’t happen, classes may need to be split.”

The school said that three temporary relief teachers (TRTs) called in sick on one day.

A parent of two children in upper primary at Nairne School, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was concerned that when replacement teachers cannot be found, class sizes become larger and students “lose a day of learning”.

“They don’t know if they’re not going to have a teacher or even a classroom to go to,” he said.

An Education Department spokeswoman said Nairne School “arranges relief teachers wherever possible and classes have only been split once this term”.

The department has almost 5000 school and preschool TRTs, including about 80 permanent relief teachers in country areas.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said schools are managing with staffing levels. Pic: RoyVphotography

Education Minister Blair Boyer said despite “a small spike” in Covid cases last week compared to the week before, government schools were “managing staffing wise”.

“Yes we’re under a little bit of pressure, but nothing compared to what we’ve had in the past,” Mr Boyer said.

But while there is demand for TRTs due to shortages, they often choose to fill longer term contracts or part time positions, Australian Education Union SA vice-president Kendall Proud said.

“Leaders who are responsible for staffing are frequently relying on Facebook groups and other forums to try and secure TRTs at short notice,” Ms Proud said.

TRT for more than a decade Anna, 54, has taken up a temporary contract working at a southern suburbs school, but was among teachers sick with Covid last week.

She said three different teachers covered her classes during the week due to shortages.

“How does that work for consistency (for students)?” Anna said.

She said five of her friends, who are relief teachers, are “looking elsewhere” for work outside of education due to lack of consistent work.

South Australian Primary Principals Association president Tobias O’Connor said he has received reports of “schools contacting up to 50 TRTs to try and get a booking”.

“It is getting desperate,” Mr O’Connor said.

Opposition education spokesman John Gardner said that “outside of the most difficult days of the pandemic”, the issue is at an unprecedented level.

Independent schools are also struggling with securing relief teachers.

Association of Independent Schools of SA chief executive Anne Dunstan said a regional school had recently indicated to her that their access to TRTs “is limited”, but metropolitan schools are also “experiencing challenges”.

“Quite often, when there is a shortage of TRT available, middle and senior leaders, including the principal, cover lessons,” Ms Dunstan said.

A Catholic Education spokeswoman said schools manage their own TRT pool individually but in rural areas finding a relief teacher can “often be more challenging”.