How much teachers’ pay rise will cost if government matches union demand

Regional schoolkids are being forced into enormous merged classes while some eastern suburbs students sit on the floor because they don’t have enough chairs, striking teachers have claimed today.

A shortage of teachers has meant thousands of classes in country high schools have been merged in the past 18 months due to a shortage of students while city schools do not have to enough chairs so students are sitting on the floor in some classes.

NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos told thousands of teachers rallying for a pay rise outside Macquarie St that their students were missing out on education due to a shortage of teachers.

“This year alone Mudgee High School students … (have been) provided minimal supervision or put in merge classes almost 2000 times,” he said.

“In Dubbo … over 2000 instances of merged classes and minimal supervision.”

He said it was also an issue affecting eastern suburbs schools, according to a message from one teacher.

Thousands of teachers have protested outside state parliament in the Sydney CBD over their ongoing pay dispute with the government. Picture: John Grainger

“Students are sitting on the floors. We don’t have enough chairs and desks … students are standing in the back of the classroom, but most are sitting in the aisles between tables. I cannot supervise a class of 50 in a room designed for 25. I need help,” Mr Gavrielatos told the assembled crowd.

The principal of north coast school Cabbage Tree Island Public, Dyonne Anderson, said her school had extremely disadvantaged students “who need quality teachers, but I can’t fill my teaching allocation, let alone provide additional teaching positions because there are no teachers to be found”.

Teachers claim students in NSW’s regional areas are being forced into huge merged classes while city kids don’t have enough furniture. Picture: John Grainger

“I can’t replace staff with sick because there are no casuals. I have to put all students together in one class or call or school or together. This is not my choice, but one that has been forced upon my school or community. Haven’t we suffered enough?”

Primary school teacher Gabriella McGrath from Ashfield Public School said the government did not care that young teachers were missing out on a life with family and friends.

“In the evenings when we should be relaxing with our loved ones, we’re sitting at our laptops, writing lesson plans and preparing them to make sure our students have the best education possible,” she said.

“Even in my four short years teaching I see that the passion that we all have as young teachers is being slowly drained from us not because we’ve lost interest, but because we have a premier and a minister who just don’t seem to care.”

Schools are closed as teachers strike in Sydney. Picture: John Grainger

NSW teachers march on Parliament House. Picture: John Grainger

Principal of St Joseph’s at East Gosford, Christine Anderson, said teachers were exhausted.

“The high school teacher shortage is placing enormous pressure, pressure and stress on teachers who are being asked to take extra lessons on a daily basis,” she said.

“Sometimes out of their subject area and to babysit students in overcrowded classrooms.”

Thousands of teachers gathered in one of the biggest statewide teachers strike in recent history.

Catholic school and private school teachers marched first through the city down Macquarie St dressed in yellow T-shirts.

They were soon joined by thousands of public school teachers in red saying “more than thanks”.

Public school teachers are demanding a pay rise of between 5-7.5 per cent depending on experience.

The NSW Teachers’ Federation which represents public school teachers say their low pay means not enough people are being brought into the profession — and too many are leaving due to high workloads.

Teachers marching the street during a strike on Wednesday, May 4 2022.

It comes as agreeing to teacher union demands to give teachers already on six figure salaries a 7.5 per cent pay rise and giving them more time off class will add an extra $4 billion to the cost of funding public education over two years, costing the state government the equivalent of 50 new primary schools.

The new figures were revealed ahead of Thursday’s teachers’ strike.

Public school teachers who reach the top of the pay scale this year received a salary of $109,978 and have 11 weeks of school holidays. In the past 11 years, NSW public school teachers salaries went up by almost 30 per cent.

The government offered unions a three per cent pay rise but that has been rejected by the Teachers’ Federation who say any offer must at least keep in line with inflation which is now 5.1 per cent.

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the three per cent offer on the table was very generous compared to other states.

Angelo Gavrielatos marching in a teachers protest back in May. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty

“Unlike Labor, who refuse to commit to a specific pay increase and closed more schools than they opened when they were last in power, this government is committed to supporting our teachers and schools, and taking a balanced approach to pay across the public service,” Ms Mitchell said.

“We’ve ensured teachers’ pay in NSW has remained competitive with the rest of the country and continuously invested in our schools, including building more than 200 new or upgraded schools.”

In his own press conference on Wednesday, Teachers’ Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said teachers were deserting the profession in record numbers due to the low wages.

“The government’s own advice shows – and I’m quoting here – teacher salaries have declined relative to other professions over the last 30 years making it harder to attract and retain teachers,” he said.

Mr Gavrielatos noted there were 1906 job vacancies in NSW schools this year — a 67 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

He said he was sorry for the disruption to parents but said it was nothing compared to the ongoing teacher shortages being faced by children including HSC students.

“As has been the case all year, hundreds and hundreds of classes have been disrupted, classes have been split or merged, classes have been left in playgrounds, schools libraries, schools halls, unsupervised or minimally supervised,” he said.