Premier Chris Minns says more than 25,000 NSW school staff got permanent roles in a historic shifts. Picture supplied

Students at Mortdale Public School are among those experiencing a shift in classroom stability following a sweeping overhaul that converted more than 25,000 temporary NSW school staff into permanent employees.

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The transition targeted 14,672 teachers and 10,363 support staff who were previously employed on short-term contracts across the state.

Under the previous Liberal-National Coalition government, the number of temporary teaching contracts in public schools had more than doubled, often leaving staff in administrative limbo despite years of service at the same campuses.

The policy shift marks the largest public sector employment shift in the state in a decade, surpassing initial targets. The Department of Education links the stabilisation of the workforce to a sharp drop in teacher vacancies, which have hit a 12-year low.

It also states that the frequency of merged or cancelled classes has halved across the state. Recent academic data shows NSW students are leading the country, ranking first or equal first across year levels in reading, writing, grammar, and numeracy.

"We've moved more than 25,000 teachers and school support staff from uncertain temporary contracts to permanent roles so that our kids have the certainty of a teacher they know in front of their class," Premier Chris Minns said.

Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car said the administrative change influences classroom dynamics. "Students benefit from consistency. When teachers and support staff are part of a school long-term, it supports settled classrooms and strengthens learning outcomes," Ms Car said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns at Mortdale Public School. The NSW government said a sharp drop in teacher vacancies is linked to a major policy shift. Picture supplied

But the opposition has challenged the government's narrative. "It's deceptive to trumpet the conversion of temporary roles without acknowledging that the total FTE number of teachers in our classrooms has gone backwards, as shown by comparing the 2023 and 2025 NSW Public Sector Reports," Shadow eduation minister Mark Speakman said. "There are 200 fewer FTE teachers in public schools as of June, 30, 2025 compared with [two years before that]."

Mr Speakman rejected claims that the government's school infrastructure program was expanding. "Most of the school infrastructure the Minns Government is opening was planned and funded by the former Liberal-National Coalition Government. Labor is cutting ribbons on projects that were already well underway," he said.

He said funding reality does not match the public announcements. "Despite rhetoric about record investment, the education capital budget in 2025-26 is down 7.7 per cent compared with the previous year's budget. That means a pipeline of fewer new classrooms and continued pressure on growing communities."