Image: NSW Teachers Federation members. Photo: NSW Teachers Federation/Facebook.
By KELLY O’HARE
The Minns government has found $1.4 billion in savings to boost teachers’ salaries and mitigate the state’s significant teaching shortage crisis. Starting on October 9, this wage hike will make NSW teachers the highest-paid in the country.
The NSW Teachers Federation and the NSW government reached an agreement 9 days ago following months of negotiation and direct action.
As per the one-year pay deal, negotiated by the Teachers Federation, the starting salary for NSW teachers will rise from $75,791 to $85,000, and the pay for a top of the scale teacher will increase from $113,042 to $122,100. All teachers will be promoted to a higher-paying position. Under the same deal, pay for public school counsellors is also increasing.
The funding comes from the Department of Education streamlining administrative practices and redirecting funds formerly used for administrative work into classrooms. It puts an end to the previous government’s failing Local Schools and Local Decisions reform which shifted 3,000 experienced teachers out of classrooms and into administrative positions.
Prue Car, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, wants experienced teachers to return to classrooms where they can benefit students directly and decrease administrative costs.
“The goal is to reverse the trend of experienced teachers being pulled away from teaching and put behind desks due to excessive paperwork and administrative tasks. Instead, they should be in classrooms, mentoring teachers, and positively impacting students’ education,” Car stated.
To achieve this substantial wage increase, the state government implemented a wide range of structural changes and cut non-essential programs. It has trimmed away the fat in commercial contracts and severed ties with 200 unnecessary communications contractors, the latter of which will save $411 million over 4 years. In addition, non-teaching executive positions created by the former government will be frozen while school staffing arrangements are reviewed.
NSW Teachers Federation acting President Henry Rajendra said, “this historic advance has been won by thousands of teachers who campaigned tirelessly. They are passionate about the teaching profession and absolutely committed to giving all kids a decent shot at life.”
“Teachers will benefit from this agreement, which will immediately begin tackling the teacher shortage. The ultimate beneficiaries are our children. Investing in teachers is investing in the future.”
