Labor bid to raise the status of teachers must be backed by better working conditions, experts say

Better workplace conditions are essential if mass teacher shortages are to be addressed, university deans say. Photograph: Dan Peled/AAP

University deans say federal government efforts to improve the status of teaching need to be backed by better workplace conditions if mass shortages hitting the sector are to be addressed.

On Monday, the federal government announced 5,000 students in teaching degrees could register for scholarships of up to $40,000 to ease financial pressure on individuals completing placements.