Liberal candidate for Wentworth Dave Sharma apologises for ‘devaluing’ teachers

NSW Teachers Federation dismisses as insincere an apology by Dave Sharma for comments he made about teachers’ working hours.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with new Wentworth candidate for the Liberal Party, Dave Sharma at Bronte Beach last week. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The NSW Teachers Federation has dismissed as “self-serving” an apology by Liberal candidate for Wentworth Dave Sharma for comments he made about the working hours of teachers.

In a Sydney Morning Herald op-ed Mr Sharma called teachers “underemployed” and said they worked “hours closer to three-quarters of a regular full-time job”.

Following several days of social media backlash, the 42-year-old issued an apology last night.

“I owe all teachers an unreserved apology. My main point was to Q[uestion] whether school as structured serves needs of modern society,” he posted to Twitter on Tuesday evening.

“Comment about teachers unfair & unwarranted. I benefited from many hardworking [and] great teachers, as do my daughters.”

Re my SMH oped on schools: I owe all teachers an unreserved apology. My main point was to Q whether school as structured serves needs of modern society. Comment about teachers unfair & unwarranted. I benefited from many hardworking + great teachers, as do my daughters. Mea culpa.

— Dave Sharma (@DaveSharma) September 18, 2018

However in a Twitter post, the Teacher’s Federation slammed the apology as insincere.

“Your comments denigrating teachers were no mere off-the-cuff remark. They were considered and written in an op-ed in a major newspaper. You didn’t apologise then, but now that those comments have caused you serious embarrassment, you offer a self-serving apology,” the organisation tweeted.

Mr Sharma,

Your comments denigrating teachers were no mere off-the-cuff remark. They were considered and written in an op-ed in a major newspaper. You didn’t apologise then, but now that those comments have caused you serious embarrassment, you offer a self-serving apology. https://t.co/ogv35g2328

— Teachers Federation (@TeachersFed) September 18, 2018

The initial backlash to the op-ed came hours within Mr Sharma being announced as the Liberal candidate for Wentworth. In the July opinion piece he wrote that the current school structure was antiquated and based on a post-World War II model. Mr Sharma argued for it to be updated for the modern era, stating that school facilities were currently under-utilised. In making the latter point, Mr Sharma said “school assets” like buildings and infrastructure were underused. Similarly, he said, school employees and teachers “work hours closer to three-quarters of a regular full-time job”.

Labor candidate for Wentworth Tim Murray was among those to take issue.

“After a teacher goes home they continue to work late into the night, preparing lessons, marking, assessing etc,” he said. “I know my wife is a teacher. Teachers work hard.”

After a teacher goes home they continue to work late into the night, preparing lessons, marking, assessing etc. I know my wife is a teacher. Teachers work hard. #wentworthvotes

— Tim Murray (@Timpmurray) September 14, 2018

NSW Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi accused Mr Sharma of “devaluing” teachers, adding: “Instead of devaluing teachers, we should recognise their work and pay them properly.”

Since winning the Liberal Party’s pre-selection last week, Mr Sharma has also faced criticism for being picked to represent an electorate he currently doesn’t live in — he is based in the north shore, but reportedly plans to move into the Wentworth seat soon.

Remember when the Liberal candidate for Wentworth said teachers "were underemployed" and working only three quarters of a full time job?

Instead of devaluing teachers, we should recognise their work and pay 👏🏽 them 👏🏽 properly 👏🏽https://t.co/ERtHZRifOW

— Mehreen Faruqi (@MehreenFaruqi) September 16, 2018

The Australian has reached out to Mr Sharma for further comment.