Victorian premier knocks back four-day work week for burnt-out teachers

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and the opposition have both knocked back the idea of teachers trialling a four-day work week to help soothe the state’s shortages despite a report making the recommendation.

A Monash University survey of 8000 Australian Education Union members found only 30 per cent of teachers reach retirement.

As the state’s job vacancy rate climbs to 2500, teachers are reporting feeling burnt out.

“All of our staff on average are doing 12 and a half hours of overtime every week,” Australian Education Union Victorian Branch President Meredith Peace said.

Monash University has handed down a report that made nine recommendations, including a trial for a four-day work week for staff, pay rises and reduced class sizes.

“Making sure that it’s not just less time with the same expectations is important,” Monash University’s Dr Fiona Longmuir said.

One school in the Southern Highlands of NSW and thousands more in rural areas of the US have trialled flexible learning.

“It could be a four-day working week for staff while children attend five days per week or it could be a four-day week for everyone,” Peace said.

But both sides of parliament have said they are not interested in the idea.

“We have no plans for a four-day working week,” Allan said.

Opposition education spokesperson Jess Wilson said: “What we’re seeing now is doubled-up classrooms, classes being sent home because there aren’t enough teachers and reducing that week isn’t going to solve that problem, in fact it’s only going to put more pressure on the system.”

Papering over the cracks of Victoria’s education system with relief teachers is costing the state hundreds of millions of dollars.

And, according to the government’s own figures, vacancies are only going to increase over the next four years.

“We really need our policy and decision-makers to sit up and listen,” Peace said.

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