Unwelcome Absence

In Secondary over the past term, we have experienced a shortage of teaching staff. Although we plan extensively in the year prior - maternity leave, accidents, unplanned surgery, the resignations of two staff and prolonged illness have combined with the continued impact of COVID to significantly impact our staffing, in particular our senior teachers. 

All these things are occurring against a backdrop of teacher overwork and a statewide teacher shortage of around 1000 teachers. Whilst Donvale is managing better than many schools, we have nonetheless been forced to call teachers out of retirement and rely on teachers in training to help fill very short-term gaps. 

The government has been aware of the issue of teacher burnout for some time and has ‘solved’ the problem by requiring teachers in government schools to have less face-to-face time and do less marking. 

Unfortunately, it would seem they have provided no additional funding to fill the resulting gaps and, as there is a dearth of teachers in any case, most schools have responded by reducing numbers of activities such as camps or by reducing the amount of learning or combining classes or increasing class sizes.

At DCC we have been able to maintain our programs, but the burden has, at least temporarily, fallen on fewer staff who are working harder.

I am aware that many families and businesses are also under significant pressure, and I’m not writing this to complain of our lot. Teaching is an extraordinary profession, and we love what we do. I simply want to give some sense of the broader context in which we find ourselves. I am very aware that any teacher absence can be disconcerting for students. 

Be assured our staffing is recalibrating, but we are not there yet. Until then, we are working hard to do our best to minimise the impact on our students’ learning and broader experience of school.

Have a look at Secondary Life to see what they have been up to.