Teacher vacancies have fallen after a pay rise, with the NSW government set to target temporary workforces and administrative workloads.
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Education Minister Prue Car announced a 20 per cent drop in the number of teacher vacancies, as she prepares to face a budget estimates hearing on Tuesday.
"These figures affirm our decision to deliver a once-in-a-generation wage rise to NSW public school teachers, along with our focus on easing teacher workload and improving student behaviour," she said.
In addition to the new pay deal, Ms Car is likely to face some questions over recent asbestos discoveries in mulch at NSW schools.
Joining her before the upper house committee will be education department secretary Murat Dizdar and several other department executives.
Teacher vacancies had fallen by 460 positions in term one of 2024 compared to 2023, however there were still 1782 vacancies in the first week.
At traditionally harder-to-staff schools in regional, rural and remote NSW, vacancies fell by 25 per cent, but 938 positions remained unfilled.
In some areas, retired or resigned teachers have been lured back.
Ms Car said the vacancy rates are trending in the right direction and addressing shortages remained a government priority.
The government has scrapped the public sector wage gap and given teachers a pay rise, transitioned 16,000 temporary teachers and support staff into permanent roles, and banned mobile phones in schools since being elected in March.
Australian Associated Press
