The Territory Labor Government has delivered 138 extra teachers to schools in three years, thanks to its reinvestment in education and in Territory children.

Under the chaotic CLP, 500 teachers and support staff were sacked when $135 million was cut from the education budget.

Territory Labor made an election promise to reinstate 164 teacher positions lost under the CLP and is delivering on that promise.

There are 138 more teachers in the first semester of 2019 compared to the first semester of 2016 – the last under the CLP government – including 111 classroom teachers and 27 senior teachers and teaching principals.

This year’s $1.16 billion education budget is the biggest in the Territory’s history.

Today, Minister for Education Selena Uibo welcomed 33 new teachers who are starting in the Territory in Semester 2, which begins next Tuesday.

The new recruits are headed for schools right across the NT, including Alice Springs, Arnhem, Darwin, Palmerston and Rural, Katherine and Tennant Creek.

They have come from all over Australia, including six from the NT, 16 from Victoria, five from WA and three from Queensland.

Three of this semester’s new recruits have relocated from overseas.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, Selena Uibo.

“Territory Labor promised to reinstate 164 teacher positions slashed by the CLP. We are delivering.

“Under the CLP, $135 million was cut from the education budget, resulting in the loss of 500 teachers and support staff. As a teacher at that time, I saw firsthand the devastating impact those funding cuts had, not just on staff but on children and young people.

“We know that investing in education brings more jobs and creates stronger and safer communities in the Northern Territory.

“But we know we cannot achieve this change without our dedicated teachers. 138 extra teachers in the NT will make a big difference in young lives.”

Media contact: Kim Stephens 0417 683 144