Only one Murraylands school closes for November 9 teachers’ strike

The Australian Education Union has called for a strike in public schools this Thursday.

Only one Murraylands school closes for November 9 teachers’ strike
The playground is empty at Tailem Bend PS this Thursday. Photo: Tailem Bend Primary School/Facebook.

Only one school in the Murraylands has closed due to strike action this Thursday.

Tailem Bend Primary School is the only one that has closed entirely, according to the state Department for Education.

However, many other schools are offering modified learning programs.

The Australian Education Union, which represents teachers and school support officers in public schools, called the strike on Monday after a breakdown in negotiations with the state government.

The union has been negotiating for better pay and conditions for educators, including more time dedicated to teaching rather than paperwork, and an SSO in every classroom.

State president Andrew Gohl said the government’s latest offer was no better than the last one.

“Under these conditions, teachers in some schools still won’t see any real workload relief for seven years, and by that time, half will have already left the profession,” he said.

“If we don’t get this right, not only will we continue to lose our current workforce, but fail to attract the next generation of educators as well.

“Every day in South Australia, thousands of students are going without a consistent teacher and the state government needs to do something about it.”

Eighty-three per cent of AEU members voted in favour of the strike, the second in three months.

Three schools were closed last time around, in September.


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