QLD Just Can’t Justify Paying Veteran Schoolteachers The Same As 19-Year-Old Cops Who Spent 8 Months At Oxley

EFFIE BATEMAN | Lifestyle | Contact

More than 50,000 teachers in Queensland are on strike this week, in response to claims that the Crisafulli government has failed to acknowledge the serious issues affecting schools across the state.

Striking for the time in 16 years, Queensland teachers are asking for better pay, as well as more resources and support, as class sizes now reach on average, 28 students to one.

For high school teachers, that can result in one teacher being responsible for teaching and marking assignments for over 150 students.

This stress is further exacerbated by inclusive education policies, which now have students with disabilities integrated into classrooms on the same basis as students without disability.

Although these inclusive policies are greatly beneficial for social integration, this has not been accompanied by additional support, resulting in teachers struggling to cater to the needs of all their students.

This, coupled with the growing difficulties of teaching students with technology-induced attention spans, the rise of AI, and stagnant pay conditions, has seen teachers leaving in droves, with at least 8,646 Queensland teachers and 3,729 teacher aides quitting since 2020.

Comparatively, the Cristafulli government has made it its mission to support the Queensland police force and offer incentives to join.

A probationary officer can expect to earn $87,509 per annum, which comprises $72,322 + 21% Operational Shift Allowance, up to $20,000 paid on select Higher Education debts, an additional $183 fortnightly cost of living allowance for recruits and an $8,000 retention bonus.

Though these benefits are warranted, given the fall in recruitment and tough working conditions that police officers are expecting to deal with, teachers are also reporting rises in violence and aggression in classroom, with reports that there have been over 100 daily incidents in Queensland schools this year.

Queensland teachers are now hoping this strike will result in them getting just a fraction of the cops incentives, instead of getting a staff pizza party as an end of year bonus.

More to come.