Parliamentary Inquiry into the State Education System reveals dire conditions at Victorian schools

Hundreds of horror stories have exposed the shocking reality inside Victoria’s state schools, with a parliamentary inquiry told some schools are in “operational survival mode”.

Victoria’s ailing state school system has suicidal principals, depressed teachers, entitled parents and violent, narcissistic students, MPs have been told.

The dire condition of some of the state’s 1500 government schools is outlined in graphic, heartbreaking detail in more than 200 submissions to state parliament.

A raft of desperate school leaders, teachers and parents have bombarded the Parliamentary Inquiry into the State Education System, airing grievances about escalating student violence and mental health issues, unmanageable workloads and staff shortages.

Schools on the edge include Wodonga Middle Years College, which is in “operational survival mode”.

School council president Paul Thorpe said the school needs a $300k fence built around it “to protect staff and students”.

MPs have been told details of the stress teachers are under in state schools. Picture: iStock

The inquiry was established by Eastern Victoria MP and former teacher Melina Bath.

“The Education Department can’t sweep this under the carpet,” she said.

“These issues need forensic investigation.”

In another submission, a principal at a small rural school speaks about the pressure of bullying from vengeful parents that led to repeated suicide attempts by drowning.

Another teacher, whose name the Herald Sun has chosen not to reveal, says she had no support from the department after her school principal failed to act on students terrorising teachers.

State school teachers are battling escalating student violence and mental health issues, unmanageable workloads and staff shortages. Picture: iStock

She was locked in a classroom with 25 frightened Year 8 students for nearly an hour while a student abused them.

She was also stalked by another student.

Another teacher noted the “ever-increasing burden of meddling, aggressive, abusive, condescending parents, who do not believe that their child could ever put a foot wrong”.

One primary teacher writes about a culture of “narcissism and entitlement” among students and micromanagement and gaslighting of teachers by “toxic” principals.

Mental health issues are repeatedly mentioned in submissions, with the Australian Education Union quoting one VCE teacher who says 16 students out of a class of 20 are on mental health plans.

Many of the submissions highlight the impact of school staff shortages, which has now reached more than 2100, including 1200 teachers.

One states: “The education system is close to collapse.”

In his submission, Andrew Dalgleish, president at the Victorian Principals Association, mentions the “knee-jerk reactions to social issues without any considered analysis”.

A Department of Education spokesman said it is “fully engaged with the inquiry … the department reviews and considers every submission made and, where appropriate, follows up on specific issues.”

Opposition education spokeswoman Jess Wilson said the submissions “paint a deeply troubling picture of what is occurring in our schools”.

Submissions were to have closed in October, but will now be received until December 15.