The teacher shortage crisis: A guide
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 8, 1 November 2024, page no. 4
The QTU has produced a guide to help school leaders and Union Reps navigate the current teacher shortage crisis.
Following a resolution from the August State Council, the QTU has now developed a practical guide (https://www.qtu.asn.au/qtuguide-teacher-shortage) that outlines key strategies for managing day-to-day shortages while ensuring that staff working conditions and industrial obligations are upheld.
The employer’s responsibility
The QTU continues to call on the Department of Education to meet its responsibility by providing formal advice, guidance, strategies, and, most importantly, solutions that ensure basic working conditions are maintained for all staff. The department, as the employer, must take proactive measures to address the teacher shortage crisis at a systemic level, ensuring schools have the support they need. Until the department consults with the QTU and an agreed position is achieved, the QTU offers schools the following strategies for managing the immediate impact of teacher shortages.
Key strategies from the guide
- Teacher shortage management plan: This provides a structured approach to teacher shortages. By anticipating potential gaps and outlining clear steps for managing them, schools can ensure continuity of learning for students and support for teaching and non-teaching staff. The plan should be reviewed regularly in consultation with teachers and school leaders and adjusted as needed.
- Low priority activity list: Schools should develop a list of non-essential tasks that can be temporarily deprioritised during times of significant demand. This helps staff focus on core responsibilities like classroom instruction and student support, alleviating some pressures caused by the shortage.
- Non-contact time and class sizes: The guide provides advice on how to protect non-contact time and manage class sizes effectively, even with staffing constraints. This is crucial, as NCT is needed for lesson planning, assessment, and maintaining high-quality instruction.
The dispute process
In addition to the strategies outlined in the guide, the QTU and many schools have been taking direct action through the dispute process to address critical teacher shortages. Currently, approximately 30 schools across Queensland are at various stages of the dispute process due to ongoing staffing challenges. These schools have formally raised concerns about their inability to meet basic working conditions, such as ensuring adequate class coverage, maintaining reasonable workloads, and providing necessary NCT.
The dispute process is a formal mechanism that allows schools and the Union to advocate for urgent solutions, pushing the Department of Education to provide immediate assistance. This includes requesting additional staffing resources, securing relief staff, and re-evaluating the allocation of teachers to meet the demands of growing student populations. The QTU is actively supporting schools through this process, aiming to achieve faster and more effective responses to staffing shortages.