Schools being held to ransom to fill teacher vacancies, former principal says

Principals in Victoria have criticised casual teacher agencies for jacking their fees up by thousands as schools struggle to fill vacancies.

Some agencies are charging $6000 for a casual teacher and former principal and Real Schools CEO, Adam Voigt, said it feels like schools are "being held to ransom".

"The behaviour by these agencies is down right predatorial," Voigt told Today.

READ MORE: 'All eyes will be on the King' even if Harry and Meghan attend Coronation

"Our schools are struggling and they don't need this excessive pressure on the budgets."

Voigt said it wasn't relief teachers' faults and the government needs to step in and say this behaviour from agencies is not okay.

"Not just to say it is not okay but actually report it and do something about it," he said.

"The schools that are struggling the hardest not only to attract full-time teachers are our secondary and large schools in remote and regional areas and they need protection."

READ MORE: Sisters devastated after brazen thieves steal dead mother's jewellery

Voigt said as is, staff numbers are tight in schools and if more than one teacher is off, it means compromising student education, particularly the programs for students who need it the most.

But he said demand is driving the business model and not all schools have a choice about paying the higher fees to replace teachers who are sick.

"We don't want them scrapping around to get a teacher at the front of the classroom," he said.

See what else Voigt had to say in the video above

Join the Today show family and give yourself the chance to win great prizes by signing up to our weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday with a special message from Karl and Sarah. You can sign up for free here.