Mr Rundle questions the Minister for Education about the increasing reliance on relief teachers, particularly in regional schools, given existing staff shortages. The Minister acknowledges the practice but defends it as normal and highlights ongoing efforts to address teacher shortages.

AnsweredQoN 555Legislative Assembly
Asked
29 August 2023
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

NAPLAN — RESULTS
555. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Education:
I have a supplementary question. The
minister acknowledged that there are shortages of staff in the system. Is he
concerned about the increase in the use of relief teachers on a permanent
basis, especially in regional schools?

AnswerView source ↗

I am not quite sure of the
connection, but I will answer it in any case. Relief teachers have always been
a part of the system. I was a relief teacher
back in the 1980s! When I went back to full-time study, it was under a conservative
government in Western Australia, and I was being called every day by the
education department for relief teaching. It is a normal practice; it has
always been the case and will remain the case. There is a shortage of teachers
in Western Australia, in Australia, and the world. We have in place a number of
strategies to address that, but it cannot be changed overnight.

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