Easing Teacher Workloads Just a Start to Boosting Profession

Teaching is a full-time job and quite a bit more for most so the $25 million over four years from 2022–23 earmarked to establish a Teacher Workload Reduction fund will be welcome news for many.

Helping teachers with the number of tasks they are expected to complete addresses part of the issue around teacher dissatisfaction but there are many strategies that could be put in place.

“Teaching is a never-ending task, one that is never finished. The money set aside will help and is on the right track - but I don't think many teachers would say they are personally experiencing a reduced workload on the front line just yet” says Rydr Tracy, Head of Education Transformation, Creatable.

“Reducing teacher workloads to maximise teaching time is important, but it's not just about the activities themselves. The ultimate goal is to ensure students have more time for meaningful learning experiences. To achieve this, it's crucial to focus on strategies that directly connect how teachers spend their time with student learning outcomes. This could involve experimenting with class sizes, lesson preparation, assessment methods, and reporting. The key is to find ways for teachers to sustainably provide what students need.

“Two specific areas to address for workload reduction are programming and assessing. With the clarity of the curriculum and advancements in technology, it's surprising how much time teachers still spend on programming and assessments. Instead of manually entering assessment data or writing reports, teachers should have access to on-demand assessments that provide valuable insights into student achievements. By shifting the focus from administrative tasks to augmenting teaching and learning activities based on student data, teachers can reclaim their core role of educating students."

NSW has introduced a program of making administrative assistants available to help which may be effective if implemented as intended.

“The more time school leaders can dedicate to educational leadership rather than administrative and financial management, the better. However, it's crucial to ensure that this program doesn't inadvertently create additional administrative work. The purpose of these assistants should be to alleviate the overwhelming administrative burden already placed on educational leaders, rather than creating new channels of unnecessary bureaucracy. It's important to delegate only non-educational administrative tasks to allow educational leaders to focus on making informed decisions,” says Tracy.

Part of raising the profile of teaching  is  a $10 million national communications campaign over two years from 2022–23.

“The shortage of teachers is a serious concern, so the campaign should focus on the potential consequences if the current trajectory continues. Teachers are the educators of all professions, and without them, we would face significant challenges.

“To maximise the impact of the program, I would highlight the reasons behind teacher dissatisfaction, such as unrealistic expectations, societal stigma, student behaviour issues, unsatisfactory pay, and constantly shifting targets. It's important to emphasise the vital role teachers play in shaping society and the long-term effects of inadequate education. Using statistics on life outcomes and the importance of schooling, the campaign should showcase what the world would look like without well-educated professionals and how it affects individuals, communities, and the economy. 

Teaching should better integrate with industry, working to create the kind of learners that will thrive in the workplace.

“The world of work has much to offer teachers and students. We should acknowledge the skills valued in the workplace and make sure we nurture them in our students. Industry moves quickly and knows what works, so learning from their practices can be valuable.

“For example, perseverance is important, but industry teaches us that being able to change track or stop unproductive activities is just as critical. By integrating with industry, we can better prepare students for the flexible and hybrid landscape they will encounter after school. This means updating our education system to align with the realities of the workplace and fostering the skills needed to navigate future complexity."

One idea is a gradual transition to hybrid learning, many aspects of society have embraced hybrid or virtual services, and education should follow suit.

“Students need to be equipped for flexible and hybrid work environments. Instead of the traditional model of attending school five days a week for fixed hours, we can provide personalised and on-demand learning pathways to students. They would have more autonomy over their learning goals and schedules while still receiving regular instruction and support from teachers. This transition would need to be gradual, ensuring a safe and supportive social environment for healthy adolescent development. The effect would be students finishing high school with the skills required to thrive in a hybrid work environment.

“Another radical idea for you: fostering entrepreneurial pathways. As technology advances rapidly, our education system struggles to keep pace. However, students can learn a lot outside the classroom, especially about creating their own opportunities. By setting up students as businesses while they are in school and teaching them how to grow their ideas into employment, we can empower them to take their ideas to market. This would nurture critical skills for generating their own jobs in a complex and evolving workforce, promoting greater equity in access to entrepreneurial opportunities,” he says.

“The lack of empowerment to manage student behaviour is another significant issue. Teachers often face challenging work conditions due to disruptive student behaviour, which can negatively impact their job satisfaction.”