The teacher shortage in New South Wales (NSW) is leading to numerous occasions of combined classes of up to 45 students and minimal supervision throughout regional and intercity schools. NSW Teachers Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos said the figures submitted to parliament (pdf) were alarming. It was reported that Year 11 and 12 students in Canobolas Rural Technology High School in Orange had been left with minimal supervision over 300 times, and Year 7 to 10 classes had been merged over 200 times. The school has 11 permanent positions that are vacant. Within Sydney, Concord High School has six vacant permanent positions, had classes merged or under minimal supervision 169 times before remote learning began. “This is an example of the very real impact teacher shortages are having on students and teachers in schools from the inner west of Sydney to the Far West of NSW,” Gavrielatos said in a statement. …