Four-day week the secret to fixing Canberra's teacher shortages?

Teachers could work fewer hours in the ACT without affecting the quality of student learning, their union says. Picture by Sitthixay Ditthavong

Students could spend fewer hours in the classroom if teachers in the ACT were granted a four-day working week without a drop in the quality of learning, a teachers' union has said.

The Australian Education Union, which represents teachers in the territory's public schools, has told a Legislative Assembly inquiry into the future of the working week fewer hours for teachers would help retain staff and address issues of workloads and over working.