The education department said it estimated about 550 public schools were closed on Thursday as a result of the 24-hour strike,while at least another 1000 faced significant disruption.
About 20,000 teachers marched down Macquarie Street to state parliament on Thursday morning in the first joint rally involving the Catholic and public sector since 1996. The NSW Teachers Federation said thousands more marched in regional locations including 3000 in Newcastle and 2500 in Wollongong.
Teachers at the march spoke of overcrowded classrooms,extreme staff shortages and staff burnout.
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Principal of North Coast Cabbage Tree Island Public School,Dyonne Anderson,said she was forced to wake up at 4am to complete administration because she was filling in for teachers during the day.
“My school has extremely disadvantaged students who need quality teachers,” she said.
“But I can’t fill my teaching allocation,let alone provide additional teaching positions,because there are no teachers to be found.