Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Australian Teachers Lose One-Third Of Time To Misbehaviour
A new survey asked more than 370 Australian teachers about classroom behaviour.
Teachers said students often interrupt lessons or make it difficult to teach.
They estimated that about nine minutes of every 30-minute lesson was lost.
This could add up to around 12 weeks of learning each year.
The report said the behaviour was often low-level but happened repeatedly.
Teachers said this was tiring and could hurt their health.
Female teachers reported losing more teaching time and facing particular wellbeing concerns.
Australia’s education minister said disruptive behaviour is a serious problem.
The government said it is responding with measures such as mobile-phone bans, teacher training and new resources.
A survey of more than 370 teachers found that student misbehaviour consumed about nine minutes of every 30-minute lesson.
The report estimated students were missing an average of 12 weeks of learning annually because of classroom disruptions.
Researchers described misbehaviour as conduct that disrupts learning, often involving persistent low-level interruptions.
One in 10 teachers said classroom behaviour had significantly harmed their health and wellbeing during the previous week.
In 2022, 42% of Australian students reported noise and disorder in mathematics classes, compared with the OECD average of 30%.
- Who
- More than 370 Australian teachers, education researcher Blaise Joseph, and Education Minister Jason Clare are central to the report.
- What
- A survey reported that classroom misbehaviour is costing Australian schools about one-third of teaching time.
- When
- The survey was reported after recent NAPLAN results; the cited international comparison comes from 2022.
- Where
- Australian classrooms, including mathematics classes.
- Why
- Disruptive behaviour interrupts teaching and learning and is affecting teachers’ wellbeing.
- Survey size
- More than 370 teachers
- Estimated lesson time lost
- Nine minutes of a 30-minute lesson
- Estimated annual learning loss
- An average of 12 weeks per student
- Teacher wellbeing
- One in 10 teachers reported a significant negative health and wellbeing effect in the previous week
- Female teachers
- Reported losing more teaching time to student misbehaviour
- International comparison
- In 2022, 42% of Australian students reported noise and disorder in mathematics classes, versus 30% across the OECD
- Government measures
- Mobile-phone bans in classrooms, improved teacher training and new resources