Charlotte Varcoe
TEMPORARY relief teachers are being called in to fill longer-term contract roles as the teacher shortage continues.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) South Australia has claimed leaders responsible for staffing were frequently relying on social media groups and other forums to secure temporary relief teachers at short notice.
It comes while pressure on teachers continues into the winter season with high flu and sickness expected.
AEU South Australia vice president Kendall Proud said by using temporary relief teachers for long-term it removed them from the relief staff pool, making it difficult for schools to find available temporary teachers.
“This is even more difficult when trying to cover specialist subjects or in regional areas such as the South East,” Ms Proud said.
“Seasonal illnesses have an impact on school staffing by adding pressure to a system that is already under significant strain.”
Mount Gambier/Berrin AEU member and local teacher Matthew Key said it was only the beginning of flu season and teachers were “already feeling the pinch”.
“We are hearing about schools splitting classes due to teacher sicknesses and that has been one of the difficulties,” Mr Key said.
“Particularly in high schools if they are needing to share classes there are classes which take precedence.
“Essentially what is happening for those kids who are enrolled in those other subjects is they are given some work to do but it is really just childminding, making sure there is supervision throughout the school day rather than really good teaching and learning that we want kids to have.”
He said the situation was at no fault of the teachers nor leadership but was due to the “absolute shortage” of staff and people available to fill gaps.
“This means their education can be really disruptive and we hear stories of kids who might be in a split class, in a different class one day then they will have a relief teacher the following day and they may have a different relief teacher the following day,” Mr Key said.
“They are getting really disrupted and are not able to hold relationships with the teacher.”
He said student’s learning was “completely disrupted” with teachers doing their best to have continuation including the teacher who was unwell.
“Teachers are able to go on the best they can while not knowing the kids or having a relationship with the kids in the room and are doing their best to report back,” Mr Key said.
“But there is no continuation of learning to happen when we have got such a big time and with the type of illness people are getting they are not just out for one or two days, often they can be out for a week or more at a time.”
He said the best solution was to “be quite bold and creative” with solutions while possibly having temporary teachers come in from Adelaide to help fill the long-term gaps.
“I think that is a really important piece of the puzzle,” Mr Key said.
“Another important thing is we actually need to be advertising and gaining more temporary teachers and permanent relief teachers who are on call five days a week to be able to fill those areas of highest need.”
He said he believed temporary relief teachers have a contract where they were on call, they would have holiday pay and all conditions other teachers would also be entitled to.
“There is certainly a need for it and the teachers in the region are really doing their best through the shortage,” he said.
“I really hope and appreciate there has been some great understanding so far from the families about what we are going through and it is really frustrating but I really hope families do not take it out on the schools.”