28,233 permanent teachers have left NSW public schools between 2010 and 2021 according to new data from the Department of Education.
Since 2011, NSW permanent teaching positions have increased by a mere 0.17 per cent, from 52,873 positions to 52,963 positions.
However, over the same period the number of temporary teachers ballooned by 71 per cent, or 11,461 additional temporary positions.
There is no doubt the increase in temporary positions has contributed to the teacher shortage crisis facing New South Wales.
The increase in temporary positions is causing job insecurity for teachers who are choosing to leave the profession and as a result schools and students will continue to experience teacher shortages, and merged and cancelled classes.
To add insult to injury under the NSW Liberals watch, teacher resignations have overtaken retirements.
For example in 2017, 649 teachers resigned from public schools while 1,836 retired.
However, in 2021 there were 1,159 teacher resignations from public schools compared with 1,142 retirements in 2021.
This is an increase of more than 78 per cent in just 5 years.
These concerning statistics come on the heels of the Upper House Education Committee survey which revealed 60 per cent of teachers surveyed intend on leaving the profession in the next five years, with 92.6 per cent attributing their exit to unmanageable workloads caused by the teacher shortage.
Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader said:
NSW needs more permanent teachers who are incentivised to stay and teach in our schools.
‘This data puts in black and white the failure of the NSW Liberal Government to effectively retain teachers.
‘Teachers are leaving in droves due to this governments failure and it is our children’s education which is suffering as a result.
Prue Car, NSW Deputy Labor Leader and NSW Shadow Minister for Education said:
‘The NSW education system is at breaking point, the teacher shortage crisis brought to you by the Perrottet Government is causing teachers to walk away in record numbers due to unmanageable workloads.
‘Educational outcomes in this state are going downhill under the Perrottet Government which has failed to support the education workforce.