The NSW Government’s announcement it will deploy 400 admin staff to the state’s public schools to assist teachers has been welcomed by the union representing school assistants.
NSW Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car announced the additional roles yesterday at a stakeholder roundtable to address urgent challenges facing public education. From Term 3, another 284 public schools will be able to employ the equivalent of 400 full-time extra administration staff, or offer more hours to existing staff, to relieve the red tape burden on teachers. It is hoped employing more staff to support teachers as well as topping up the hours of existing staff will result in fewer teachers leaving the profession due to the huge administrative loads many have to endure.
“Teachers signed up to teach our children not to fill out paperwork. More time to teach frees up teachers to focus on better outcomes in the classroom,” Minister Car said.
“We can’t afford to see more teachers leave the profession at a time when we are already dealing with a teacher shortage crisis.
Stewart Little, General Secretary of the Public Service Association, which represents staff who assist teachers in our state’s schools says the Minns Government and Education Minister Prue Car should be congratulated on such an unprecedented investment in the education of the children of NSW.
“Support staff are critical to making sure our kids, especially those with disabilities, learning difficulties, and challenging home environments, can make it through the mainstream school system,” he said.
“98% of the staff assisting teachers in our state’s public schools are women so this is a great boost for women in the workplace.”
“Over half of these new 400 jobs will be going to regional schools so it’s a great boost for jobs in the bush, which is fantastic.”
“This investment by the Minns Government and Education Minister Prue Car will allow teachers to concentrate on lesson preparation and quality teaching,” Mr Little said.
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