TWO temporary teachers at Merrylands High School have joined almost 5,500 teachers and support staff who accepted offers to become permanent employees, under a State Government initiative to help tackle the teacher workforce shortage.
Teachers Anthony Kewin and Chandani Dayal said becoming permanent made them feel more valued and “part of the community”, as well allowing them to make plans for the future.
Mr Kewin said that he loved coming in and working hard every day for the kids and “knowing that I’m valued and a part of the school community is an amazing feeling”, while Ms Dayal, who began her career at Merrylands, said she felt she belonged there and “permanency makes that official”.
State MP for Granville, Julia Finn, said the teachers “told us how much that security and peace of mind means to them – as well as allowing them to do the job they love – which is teaching children”.
The State Government has committed to offer 16,000 temporary teachers and school-based support staff conversion to permanent contracts.
The Government claimed that since 2017, just 63 per cent of the teaching workforce in public schools had had the security of a permanent position – “a legacy of the previous Liberal National government’s underinvestment in teachers”.
Premier Chris Minns said the move was “good for teachers, good for kids and good for our education”.
“We want more teachers, in front of the classroom, permanently,” he said.
Staff eligible for an offer must have worked in their school for at least three years.
