Trainee teachers cannot afford cost of living while completing mandatory classroom training

Trainee teachers face financial hardship during their required on-the-job training period, earning only $20,660 annually while managing living expenses and unable to work additional jobs due to full-time training commitments. The removal of overseas relocation grants has eliminated a critical financial safety net, forcing many aspiring teachers to abandon their careers or go into debt. Current solutions (low stipends, grant cuts) fail to address the fundamental gap between trainee compensation and actual cost of living.