The Territory’s newest crop of principal and teacher recruits are this week undergoing orientation ahead of heading out to their communities for the start of Term 3.
Despite the impacts of COVID-19, mid-year principal and teacher recruitment numbers are on par with other years.
The majority of new principal positions in the NT, 16, have been filled by Territory residents, while another has been filled by a Victorian.
The majority of teacher recruits attending this week’s orientation, six, have also come from the Territory. There are two new recruits from each of Queensland and Western Australia, and one of each from New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.
The new recruits are headed for schools right across the NT, including Central Australia, Arnhem, Darwin, Palmerston and Rural, and the Big Rivers and Barkly regions.
All education staff who arrived from interstate prior to 17 July are being supported to undertake two week self-isolation periods, where required.
In line with the advice from the NT Chief Health Officer, those who arrive from identified hotspots after 17 July will have to undertake mandatory supervised quarantine in the Howard Springs Workers Village at their own cost.
The Territory Labor Government is also working with Northern Territory land councils to ensure their wishes are respected, in relation to the return of education staff to remote communities.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, Selena Uibo.
“As a teacher myself, I know working in education is one of the most rewarding careers in the world and I congratulate all our new recruits in taking the step to help shape a bright future for all of our Territory kids.
“For the past four years, the Territory Labor Government has delivered successive record education budgets, investing billions into the NT’s greatest asset: our children.
“Unlike the CLP and Terry Mills, who sacked teachers and support staff and ripped hundreds of millions of dollars from the education budget, we are supporting our principals and teachers to deliver the best education to our students by increasing teacher numbers and properly resourcing our schools.
“We are working closely with schools and land councils to ensure education staff returning to the Territory from interstate hotspots, or those coming for the first time, are supported to undertake quarantine before returning to school, so we do not risk COVID-19 spreading to our vulnerable remote community members.
“Schools have contingencies in place for any teachers who will have to quarantine, and all NTG schools have advised they will be able to open and operate as normal from the beginning of Term 3.”
Media contact: Kim Stephens 0417 683 144