Two thirds of Victorian state school teachers are failing basic tasks such as monitoring student progress and giving useful feedback, a shocking new survey reveals.
The Victorian teachers' union warns that its members' workload is"out of control" and that most teachers are struggling to meet students' needs.
The survey of 13,000 teachers, commissioned by Australian Education Union's Victorian branch, reveals only one third of teachers believe they are able to provide timely feedback to students, deal with student behaviour and effectively assess student progress.
The survey shows teachers in poorer schools are less equipped to do their job properly, with only 58 per cent of teachers at these schools claiming they had access to appropriate teaching and learning resources, compared with 73 per cent at wealthier schools.
The new data - which was analysed by the Australian Council for Educational Research - comes as the teachers' union thrashes out a new pay deal with the Victorian government for about 60,000 teachers, support staff and principals.
The union is demanding a 21 per cent pay rise over the next three years, relief from increasing workloads, a reduction in the use of short-term contracts and smaller class sizes with a maximum of 20 students (down from 25 and 26 students).
Branch president Meredith Peace said the survey was proof better conditions for Victorian teachers were needed.
"Our members have been clearly telling us that their workload is quite simply out of control, and the public system can't continue to sustain those workloads and expect there not to be high levels of stress and burnout, which will affect the kids."
Full-time primary and secondary teachers in Victoria work 53 hours a week, which amounts to 15 hours overtime, the data shows. This is five hours more than the national average for teachers in a typical week.
Ms Peace said part of the reason for the overtime was that non-teaching hours were being filled by student supervision and meetings, which forced teachers to use their time off, including weekends, to plan for classes and mark assignments.
Campus principals worked about 60 hours per week during the school term, while less than 20 per cent of principals spend time on leading quality teaching and learning, with most drowning in administrative tasks and compliance issues.
One in four experienced teachers are teaching outside their area of expertise, the survey finds.
Ms Peace said teaching in the 21st century had changed drastically, and new targets were contributing to the expanding workload.
Teachers were now expected to tailor their classes to individual student needs, play a more interventionist role for students with disabilities, and provide online feedback on assignments to students on a regular basis. They were also expected to keep in constant communication with parents and teachers online.
"These ideas are good, it's about engaging students and parents in learning, and keeping them up to date regularly. That's a positive thing, but there's a workload implication ... and we think that the system is at breaking point in terms of the amount of additional unpaid work that people are doing," she said.
A government spokeswoman said teachers were doing an "amazing job" and the government would continue to bargain "in good faith".
timna.jacks@fairfaxmedia.com.au