School staffing crisis

WALGETT isn’t the only state school experiencing critical staff shortages according to the NSW Teachers Federation.

Teachers at Coomealla High School and Gol Gol Public School near Mildura and Bulahdelah Central School, walked off the job earlier this week protesting the reduction in staffing incentives and continued teacher shortages in rural and remote areas of the state.

NSW Teachers Federation Deputy President Henry Rajendra said many teachers at Bulahdelah Central School taught in Walgett and other hard to staff areas before transferring to the coast at a time when there was confidence in the Department’s staffing processes.

“Over the past decade, though, the government and Department have weakened previously successful processes that ensured adequate staffing of all schools across the state,” Mr Rajendra said.

“Members have declared their preparedness to take further action should the government fail to address the issues.

“The NSW Government has let down students, parents and the wider community by failing to provide teachers for every student and every class.”