MORE than £300,000 has been spent so far this year on filling vacant posts in schools with supply teachers from UK agencies, the government has revealed, prompting concerns from a backbench politician and a leading union official.
Between five and 11 agency teachers were employed at any one time during the period between January and July, earning an average of £297 per day, according to the Education Department.
A total of 16 staff were hired across the spring and summer terms, the department said, with a total of £226,000 being paid. Adding travel costs of around £5,000 and £83,000 in accommodation expenses, the total spend was £313,000. It is understood that the supply teachers were put up at the Hotel de France.
Responding to a written question from Deputy Rob Ward, the Education Department said: ‘It continues to be the minister’s preference to employ substantive permanent teachers wherever possible.
‘Overseas agency teachers are only used for vacancies that have been unsuccessfully advertised on- and off-Island and, for a variety of reasons, it has not been possible to make an appropriate substantive appointment.’
Deputy Ward, a former teacher, said he was ‘very concerned’ about the situation, especially given the increase from a previous figure of £92,000 covering the autumn term last year.
He said: ‘The spend on this has just rocketed and I’m worried about what the situation will be once we get to this September, when the longest and most important school term will start.
‘This money is going straight off-Island and I don’t think it provides the sort of consistency in teaching that is best for our children.’
Marina Mauger, of the union NASUWT, echoed Deputy Ward’s concerns.
She said: ‘We are in a recruitment crisis. There are simply not enough teachers and it’s getting worse every year.
‘A lot of people are leaving teaching because it is the lowest-paid graduate profession, or going to teach abroad because of the tax advantages and the high cost of living in Jersey.’
Teaching unions have been involved in a long-running dispute over pay that led to one union, the NEU, staging a one-day strike earlier this month while NASUWT members have been working to rule.
Teachers’ pay
Full-time experienced staff: £53,307 salary plus £9,525 social security and pension costs = total £62,832 per year
Jersey-based experienced supply teacher: £42,940 salary (£240 per day) plus £2,660 additional costs = total £45,600 per year
UK-based supply teacher: £56,430 salary (£297 per day) plus £15,600 accommodation = £72,030 per year
Source: Government of Jersey
