Fears the quality of Victorian teachers will plummet because education degrees will be free

Victorian teachers and soon-to-graduate students who suffered through Covid, but are burdened with hefty HECS debts, have slammed the government’s decision to now make degrees free.

Victorians wanting to become a high school teacher will get $18,000 for a four-year degree.

Victorian teachers with hefty HECS debts have slammed the Andrews government’s decision to make teaching degrees free, saying more needs to be done to retain burnt-out staff.

Current teachers and students say conditions needed to be “urgently improved” for staff, including better pay, incentives and assistance with student loans.

It comes after the state government announced free secondary teaching degrees under a $229m plan to tackle staff shortages.

Students wanting to take up a career as a high school teacher will get $18,000 for a four-year undergraduate program or $9000 for postgraduate study, if they commit to working at state schools for at least two years.

Isabella Jenkins, 22, a Monash University student in her fourth year of an education honours, said it was “frustrating beyond words” to see current students ignored.

“We’re the ones who had to go through difficult placements, particularly during and after Covid,” she said.

“I personally feel the quality of teachers will plummet, because it’s a free degree. And the teachers who are good and currently working won’t stand for that.”

Existing teachers say money should be spent improving staff conditions and via incentives.

Dozens of teachers have said the free degree initiative was “fantastic”, but called for the state government to pay off existing student loans and offer bonuses for retention.

“For those who have their loans already paid off they should then get bonuses for retention of service based on how long they have been in the profession,” one teacher said in an online forum.

Another teacher wrote: “Our working conditions need to be urgently improved. There are more than 2000 jobs being advertised, clearly this needs to be addressed.”

Bayview College principal Dr Michelle Kearney said burnout was one of many factors resulting in teacher shortages across government and independent schools.
“Anything that is only relevant for one sector isn’t a step forward, it’s a sideway step,” Dr Kearney said.

Australian Education Union Victorian Branch deputy president Justin Mullaly said while the state government’s announcement was welcomed, more needed to be done to incentivise existing school staff.

Teachers are becoming burnt-out, creating a staffing crisis.

“Right now school staff are stretched covering gaps because of teacher shortages – they are going above and beyond to ensure students have access to the learning programs they need,” Mr Mullaly said.

“This effort is taking a toll causing too many to become burnt out, take extended leave, or leave the profession altogether.

“Retention payments are one of the many solutions the government can implement now to acknowledge the key role of teachers, education support staff, and principals, their valuable work, and encourage them to stay in the profession.”

A state government spokesman said: “We’re proud to be backing our outstanding teachers – investing more than $1.6 billion in initiatives to support and retain our dedicated school staff, including our announcement this week to expand the Australian-first Career Start graduate program, giving newly-qualified teachers the support they deserve.”

“This builds on the Labor Government’s other recent investments – reducing face-to-face teaching time, delivering financial incentives of up to $50,000, and giving teachers more professional development opportunities through the new Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership,” he said.