After teachers walked off the job at Mullumbimby High School, the education department says teachers’ union was ‘intentionally misleading’

While the NSW Teachers Federation has made claims of a statewide shortage and local resource issues, the department said the state has “no teacher shortage”.

The NSW Department of Education has hit back at claims of a staffing problem. Picture: Burak Sr

The NSW Department of Education has hit back at claims made by the Teacher’s Federation after a stop-work meeting by Mullumbimby High School teachers.

The Teacher’s Federation said statewide and local shortages led to their decision to walk off the job on Thursday.

But an Education Department spokesman said the federation’s claims were “inaccurate and intentionally misleading”.

“It is disappointing and irresponsible for the Teachers Federation to be misleading the community, particularly as schools respond to the pandemic,” the spokesman said.

The federation had claimed a head teacher position, other teaching roles and the school counsellor job were all vacant.

“The statement that several head teacher positions have been advertised and remain unfilled is incorrect,” the department spokesman said.

“All head teacher positions are filled.

“While the school counsellor is on leave the Senior Psychologist Education (SPE) has attended the school daily to support students.

“There is no ‘teacher shortage’ in NSW.

“The current vacancy rate of teaching positions represents less than two per cent of the overall workforce.

“We work closely with all schools, including Mullumbimby High School, on vacancies.”

He said they have filled almost 3200 teaching positions across the state so far this year and had hired almost 10,000 teachers since 2017.

“In the 2021/22 NSW Budget $124.8 million was committed to achieve the initiatives included in the Teacher Supply Strategy due for release later this year,” he said.

“The strategy will build on substantial existing investment to boost the supply of quality teachers.