Forty-five Victorian teachers have been suspended on an interim basis because they pose an unacceptable risk of harm to children. The number of interim suspensions rose by 41 per cent in the 2022-23 financial year, according to the Victorian Institute of Teaching's annual report released on Wednesday. Six teachers were also suspended after being charged with a category A offence, which includes crimes such as possessing child abuse material, grooming and murder. Five teachers had their registration cancelled because they were found guilty of one of the category A offences. Reports against registered teachers for sexual offences, physical violence and neglect increased by 54 per cent in 2022/23 to 390 allegations. The number of complaints over teacher incompetence, misconduct and fitness to teach also rose to 240, up 37 per cent. The most significant increase was in the number of notifications from employers. Schools have a legal obligation to notify the Victorian Institute of Teaching if they have taken action against a registered teacher in response to allegations of serious incompetence and misconduct. There were 161 notifications in 2022-23, up 257 per cent on the previous year. Australian Associated Press