NSW to allow unvaccinated teachers to return to most classrooms in term three

Hundreds of NSW teachers who were terminated for their anti-vax stance will be able to reapply for roles in classrooms from this term. HAVE YOUR SAY IN OUR POLL.

More than 1000 unvaccinated teachers will be eligible to reapply for their jobs and return to classrooms under a massive rule change by the NSW Education Department.

The mandate requiring all department employees, including teachers and other school staff, to be fully vaccinated will be lifted from term three, which begins on ­Monday.

The decision, first put to stakeholders for consultation three weeks ago, means anti-vax teachers who were dismissed or made “inactive” due to the Public Health Order will be able to return to work.

A department spokesman said the decision to lift the mandate would not be finalised until Monday, with specifics of the plan still under negotiation.

But a source within the department told The Saturday Telegraph the mandate would indeed by scrapped on the first day of term.

NSW Teachers Federation member Julie Ross, pictured with daughter and teacher Ruby Blake, said Covid anxiety was high among teachers. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The department’s initial proposal suggested staff working with high needs students would still require at least three doses of the Covid vaccine.

The NSW Teachers’ Federation was still negotiating those conditions with the ­department until close of business Friday.

Federation member Julie Ross said anxiety was high among teachers ahead of school’s return.

“There are concerns around a lack of a mask ­mandate and big concerns about unvaccinated teachers potentially returning to overcrowded staffrooms,” Ms Ross said.

“Teachers will also not have had access to a fourth Covid shot by next week.

“Term three is already tricky with kids and colds and the flu, and stress levels are high not knowing what teachers are walking into this term.”

Department figures confirmed 965 casual teachers previously made “inactive” would be able to return to classrooms, while at least 311 other staff, including 209 permanent teachers, could reapply for open vacancies.

The reversal comes as the state faces a crippling teacher shortage, with data earlier this year showing as many as 1500 teaching vacancies are unfilled across the state.

While unveiling the proposal on June 24, department secretary Georgina Harrisson said the change would have little impact on the staffing crisis, because Covid and the flu were the main reasons behind teacher absences.

Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said the shortage ran deeper and longer than that.

“It is as predictable as it is disappointing that the denial and spin continues,” Mr Gavrielatos said.

“The unprecedented teacher shortage impacting students and teachers alike is entirely of the government’s making.

“Ten years of failed policies have brought us to the point of not being able to attract and retain the teachers we need. Covid has just made the disaster of the teacher shortage worse.

“If we don’t pay teachers what they’re worth we can’t have the teachers we need.

“The teaching service remains overworked, underpaid and undervalued.”

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