Overseas and interstate STEM teachers will be the target of a new campaign to boost teacher numbers in NSW public schools.
The NSW Government will spend $13.5 million on a program to bring more than 500 qualified STEM teachers from other countries and states into NSW classrooms.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the plan to recruit ‘standout’ international and interstate teachers is part of a broader strategy to boost and sustain a high quality teaching workforce.
“There are more than 91,000 teachers employed in NSW public schools, and we are opening the door to even more expert teachers looking to teach in our great system,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Our education system is amongst the largest in the world, and I am confident that by opening the door to more high-quality teachers from other jurisdictions, we will also become amongst the highest performing in the world.”
This initiative builds upon the NSW Government’s recently announced new employment-based pathways into teaching, and will further increase our supply of great teachers. It is also aligned with the Productivity Commission’s White Paper recommendation to leverage the status of NSW and entice great teachers to work here so we can continue to improve our education system.
“NSW is an incredible place to live and work – attracting the best teachers from around the world will help turbocharge our recovery from the pandemic by ensuring our students have access to more high quality teachers,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Our state boasts the biggest education system in the southern hemisphere and we should be using that position to attract the best teachers from around the country and the world to help our students get ahead.”
The overseas focus will be on countries whose teachers have high potential to succeed in the NSW public school system, such as Canada and the UK.
Under the initiative, 460 teachers will be recruited between 2022-23, and 100 in 2023-24.
Working alongside other agencies, including the Commonwealth Government, the Department of Education will help successful recruits with relocation and other support including Australian border control measures, quarantine and visa requirements.
This initiative forms part of the NSW Government’s new Teacher Supply Strategy, due for release soon.
