Our Region To Benefit From Record Teacher Numbers

Parliamentary Secretary for Education Gareth Ward MP and Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock MP have today announced that local schools across the Illawarra and South Coast will benefit from a major teacher recruitment drive under the New South Wales Government.

Mr Ward said that the NSW Government will hire an additional 4,600 teachers to join the ranks of the public school system over the next four years – delivering the highest number of teachers in our State’s history.

“I’m thrilled that we are continuing to grow our region’s world-class teacher workforce,” he said.

“It is so important to invest in our teachers so they can continue to equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the jobs of the future.”

“This $2 billion commitment will take the total number of full-time positions we have funded to nearly 11,000 new teachers since coming to Government.

Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock said: “By comparison, Labor hired just over 1,000 new teachers in their last five years in office. They closed more than 90 schools, with a secret plan to close 100 more and axe 7,500 teachers,” she said.

“As a former teacher at Ulladulla High School, I know first-hand that here on the South Coast we have some of the best teachers in the world who have the incredibly rewarding career of shaping the lives of the next generation.

“We are investing record amounts into our schools and teachers, which has only been made possible due to the strong economic position created by the NSW Government.

“These extra teachers will help staff the South Coast’s upgraded schools being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s record $6 billion investment in school infrastructure,” Mrs Hancock said.

Last year, the NSW Government committed an additional $6.4 billion for public schools to 2027 as part of the Gonski deal with the Commonwealth, bringing the State’s total investment to $148 billion for government and non-government schools.

NSW was also the only State to provide extra money to public schools to complement the Commonwealth’s $1.2 billion Choice and Affordability Fund.