Addressing the teacher shortage crisis and easing workload will be a priority for the NSW Education

Standards Authority (NESA) as the Minns Labor Government issues its first Statement of Expectations.

For the first time, the NSW Government’s expectations for NESA will explicitly ask the regulatory body to reduce unnecessary workload and ensure the accreditation process for teachers is no overly burdensome.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to improving educational outcomes for students, and ensuring every child in NSW receives a high-quality education.

Having an education system that values and supports teachers is key to delivering this promise.

The Statement of Expectations will also require NESA to focus on clear and concise language and ensure its requirements of teachers are explicit.

Taking these steps will help avoid duplication and the creation of unnecessary work, as well as any misunderstanding about what is required of educators in NSW.

Other points include working with higher education providers to ensure high-quality programs are being delivered that properly prepare graduate teachers for the classroom.

NESA will also be asked to work on streamlining processes and removing unnecessary barriers for teachers in the areas of greatest need while maintaining NSW’s high standards for the profession.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“We know NESA shares the NSW Government’s commitment to improving student educational outcomes, but that won’t happen while we have overworked and burnt-out teachers.

“Addressing the teacher shortage crisis requires all parts of our system to be working together to relieve the burden on our teaching workforce.

“NESA is already doing great things to support our teachers, and we look forward to working with the authority to do more to ease teachers’ workload, providing a benefit to all the state’s students.”