NSW teachers protest for increased preparation time

Teachers and parents in New South Wales are rallying on Macquarie Street to demand an increase in allocated preparation time, marking the first such push for improvement in over four decades. The NSW Teachers Federation is advocating for a guaranteed additional two hours of preparation time per week to address growing workloads.

A survey of more than 1,400 teachers revealed that approximately 85 per cent of respondents have considered leaving the profession due to insufficient preparation time. The poll indicated that nine in ten teachers would be more likely to remain in the sector if an extra two hours were provided weekly.

Participants noted that the complexity of classroom needs has increased significantly, with the number of students with disabilities in NSW public schools rising 75 per cent since 2021. Teachers reported that current time allocations—such as 24 minutes a day for primary teachers—are inadequate for lesson planning, marking, communicating with parents, and supporting students with diverse learning requirements.