Classes merge as flu frenzy spurs teacher shortage
SCHOOL classes are being combined to combat a lack of teachers when they call in sick, with some schools resorting to filing several grades into assembly halls amid a horror flu season.
The Cairns Post can reveal almost half of Queensland’s 48,000 full-time state school teachers have needed between two and five days off since school began in late-January.
Queensland Teachers’ Union president Kevin Bates said at one Brisbane school recently, 17 of its 31 teachers were off sick on one day.
“They (state schools) might take two or three Year 3 classes and put them together,” he said.
“When you’re missing quite a few teachers, you’re often missing quite a few students because illness goes through a school population.”
Since school resumed this year, 32 per cent of teachers had taken one day or less for sick leave, with 43 per cent having needed one day or less since June 1.
Education Minister Grace Grace said it was better teachers didn’t go to work when they were sick in order to stop the spread of illness.
“While this year’s cold and flu season has been particularly severe for the community, managing teacher absences due to illness is nothing new,” Ms Grace said.
“The department has a pool of around 5000 casual relief teachers across the state that principals can access if they have a teacher away sick.
“Schools also have access to smaller pools of permanent relieving teachers that exist at a district level.”
Mr Bates, who previously told the Cairns Post upwards of 10,000 educators needed to be added to the workforce within five to 10 years if the state was to ward off a teacher shortage, said in some instances, principals and heads of departments were lending a hand when educators were sick.