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Writer's pictureMalvika Oberoi

The Case Against a Four-Day School Week: Why Students Could Suffer Amid Australia’s Teacher Shortage

The idea of a four-day school week has been gaining momentum, particularly as Australia faces a critical shortage of teachers. With a reported 10% shortfall in full-time teachers in 2022 and a looming forecast of over 4,000 secondary school teacher vacancies by 2025, many schools and educators are pushing for change. A four-day school week is being floated to combat teacher burnout and improve work-life balance.

But is this change really in the best interest of students? While it may seem like an appealing quick fix, there are several reasons why a shorter school week could have unintended, negative consequences—particularly for the very students the education system is meant to serve.


1. More Pressure, Less Time to Learn

Cutting down to a four-day week means cramming five days' worth of lessons into a shorter period. This doesn’t mean less work for students; in fact, it means more pressure. Teachers would be forced to speed through the material, leaving students with little time to fully absorb concepts or ask questions.

For younger students especially, learning requires time, repetition, and reinforcement. The shift to a four-day week could lead to a superficial understanding of topics, as students are rushed from one concept to the next. Longer school days, another proposed solution would lead to exhaustion, with kids mentally checking out by the end of the day.


2. Teacher Shortage: The Real Problem

The push for a four-day school week highlights a bigger issue: Australia’s teacher shortage. Overworked educators are rightfully seeking solutions to alleviate their workload, but shortening the school week doesn't address the root of the problem. In fact, it could exacerbate it.

With fewer teachers available, those who remain will face even more pressure to cover large class sizes and a variety of subjects. Instead of easing the burden, a shorter week may accelerate teacher burnout, worsening the shortage. To truly fix the issue, we need to focus on recruiting and retaining more teachers, offering better support, and improving working conditions—not reducing the school week.


3. Widening the Achievement Gap

Not all students have the same access to resources outside of school. A four-day school week could widen the gap between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. For many disadvantaged students, school is more than just a place to learn—it provides structure, meals, and stability.

Affluent families may be able to afford private tutors, extracurricular activities, or enrichment programs for their children during the extra day off. But for less privileged families, that day off might be spent without academic engagement or support, potentially widening the achievement gap in a system that already struggles with inequality.


4. The Childcare Conundrum for Parents

The shift to a four-day school week might benefit teachers, but what about parents? Many working parents depend on schools to provide not only education but also childcare during the day. A four-day week could create logistical and financial challenges for families scrambling to find care for their children on that extra day off.

For single-parent households or families with both parents working full-time, this change could result in increased childcare costs or even missed workdays, adding stress to already busy lives. Instead of alleviating burdens, a four-day school week could transfer them from teachers to parents.


5. What Happens to Extracurricular Activities?

School isn't just about academic learning. It’s also where students develop social skills, explore hobbies, and participate in extracurricular activities like sports, drama, and clubs. With fewer school days, these enriching experiences may be cut back or eliminated. This could have long-term consequences for students who rely on extracurriculars for personal growth, college applications, and even scholarships.

Balancing academics with extracurricular activities is a crucial part of the school experience, and cutting the week short risks minimising these important opportunities.


Conclusion: Prioritise Students, Strengthen the System

There’s no denying that Australia’s teacher shortage is a serious issue, and educators deserve better support and working conditions. However, cutting down the school week isn’t the answer. The real solution lies in addressing the root of the problem—by recruiting more teachers, offering better training, and providing adequate resources.

A four-day school week may seem like a quick fix, but it risks compromising the quality of education, widening the achievement gap, and putting unnecessary strain on students and families. If you want to secure a bright future for Australia’s students, you need to invest in strengthening your education system—not shrinking it.


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