Nick Dametto says teachers need more support as thousands of educators leave their jobs

An NQ MP says teachers and aids are quitting Queensland schools at alarming rates because they do not have the tools they need to deal with student behaviour, mandatory reporting and paperwork.

Teachers are leaving jobs in droves.

A North Queensland MP says teachers and teacher aids are quitting Queensland schools at alarming rates because they do not have the tools they need to deal with student behaviour, mandatory reporting and paperwork.

NewsCorp has revealed that 12,375 educators resigned in the past four years but the government maintains that the retention rate of teachers and aids is about 95 per cent.

The state government is copping the heat after promises during the election to get more educators into the already under-pressure industry. The figures come after proposed changes to the state’s Education Act, which include changes to suspensions and exclusions, saw tensions heighten.

KAP deputy leader and Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto.

Hinchinbrook MP and Katter’s Australian Party deputy leader Nick Dametto said teachers were leaving their chosen profession in droves for a variety of reasons including workload, lack of support, occupational violence and disillusionment with the system.

“As much as we love and appreciate our teachers, this state Labor government is giving them very little reason to continue in their profession and good luck trying to attract quality teachers in the future if you don’t have experienced teachers for training and learning of the profession,” Mr Dametto said.

“It doesn’t help matters when we currently have an Education Bill before the parliament that seeks to change the current school disciplinary absences appeal process, something which many teachers feel strongly about and my office has been inundated with their concerns.”

Mr Dametto said teachers and principals were “rightly concerned” that the bill would diminish any remaining autonomy and severely restrict school leaders’ ability to operate the schools in a safe and orderly manner.

“The education minister can spend all the money she wants on shade sails and playground equipment, but until the focus is shifted to the fundamental issues of what is driving teachers away from the classroom, we will continue to have a failing Queensland education system,” he said.

Education minister Di Farmer said the government would continue to monitor trends in resignations, and would ensure training and support where needed.

“Queensland’s universities continue to deliver a pipeline of new teachers and help teacher aides transition to Registered Teacher positions,” a spokesman for Ms Farmer’s office said.

The Queensland Teachers Union said that its members were ‘appalled’ with the proposed changes to the Education Act, stating the bill ‘fails to contribute to the good order and management of state schools.’

Mr Dametto said KAP was expected to hand down its recommendations towards the bill in the coming weeks.

The MP is a member of the Education, Employment, Training and Skills Committee which is currently considering the Education (General Provisions) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (the Bill).

The committee is expected to hand down its report into the bill on April 19.

Originally published as Nick Dametto says teachers need more support as thousands of educators leave their jobs