More teachers needed at regional schools

Regional Victoria is in the midst of a teacher shortage, with hundreds of vacant teaching jobs listed in country towns across the state.

Teacher vacancies have almost quadrupled since the beginning of the school year, with regional areas representing 30 per cent of the vacancies despite the area accounting for just 20 per cent of the population.

According to a Victorian Department of Education Supply and Demand report, the demand for teachers in Victoria is expected to reach a shortfall of about 5,000 teachers by 2028, mostly driven by a drop in supply in the secondary education sector.

The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, said it was essential that shortages were addressed to ensure children in regional areas had access to the best possible education.

“This Labor Government must address the declining teaching workforce in our regional communities,” Ms Cleeland said.

“Students in regional areas deserve to have access to a good education, and this is not possible without enough teachers.

“No student can achieve their best learning in over-crowded classrooms or by closing down schools.

“Despite claiming to have spent more than $1.6 billion since 2019 on workforce initiatives – the situation is getting worse and educational outcomes continue to fall for regional schools.

“Labor cannot manage money, cannot manage our education system and Victorian students are paying the price.”