NT schools return for semester two with over 80 teachers short

Territory teachers are ‘feeling the pressure’ as schools scramble to find educators amid a national shortage – but some staff say they have greater concerns.

Some classrooms will be without a teacher as the NT Department of Education scrambles to fill more than 80 positions, but teachers say they have other concerns.

Semester two of 2025 returned on July 15, marking the final semester for some middle schools which will transition to comprehensive Year 7 to 12 schools next year.

Following the recruitment of 89 teachers for Term 3, a Department of Education spokesman confirmed there were still 82 reported vacancies across the Territory.

President of the Australian Education Union NT (AEU NT) Michelle Ayres praised the department for closing the teacher shortage gap, but said it did not reflect the true workforce shortage.

“Those figure represent a significant improvement on previous years, and the department deserves credit for achieving that,” Ms Ayres said.

“We know how much effort has gone into recruitment, and it’s encouraging to see that reflected in the data.

Australian Education Union NT president Michelle Ayres said the department’s recruitment efforts were much better this year.

“At the same time, we don’t believe advertised vacancies reflect the full picture.

“In many cases, roles that would make a real difference aren’t advertised at all — they’re quietly absorbed by staff who are already at capacity.

“The reality is that more teachers are needed to implement strong programs and engage students well.

“That will help to keep both the students and the teachers in schools.’

Teachers in the classroom reported similar experiences to the NT News on the condition of anonymity.

“We are feeling the pressure of not enough support staff,” one said.

“We have numerous students with educational adjustment plans (EAP) who need extra assistance, but there’s not enough staff.”

Teachers said another shortage was in inclusion support staff. Picture: iStock

The staff shortage is not unique to the Northern Territory, with a 2022 federal government paper projecting supply of secondary school teachers would outstrip demand by 4100 educators by 2025.

This has compounded with attrition — seeing 497 teachers leave the NT department between July 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025 — to produce a shortage.

But secondary teachers reported the looming transition to comprehensive schools was causing the most concern for staff.

This transition was recommended by a review into secondary schooling handed down to the Labor government in 2024.

The incoming CLP government confirmed they would adopt the key recommendation, with the department announcing the transition would begin in 2026. 

Department documents said the transition would see Sanderson Middle School develop a specialist industry, trade and technical annex focused on high priority industries for senior secondary students. Picture Glenn Campbell

Though teachers say uncertainty and anxiety still remains with many questions unanswered about the transition.

“We have staff looking for alternative employment as there is so much uncertainty about what is happening next year with the transition,” one educator said.

“A lot of staff are feeling uncertain about what our jobs will look like after the secondary transition next year,” another said.

In March the department held information sessions with school communities to prepare for the transition.

The department’s website described the phasing out of middle school as a “smooth, sequenced transition to the comprehensive school model”.

Originally published as NT schools return for semester two with over 80 teachers short