The development comes amid rolling school strikes that are set to continue throughout Term 2 as “robust and intense” pay negotiations continue with the AEU Victorian branch.

On Monday, the state’s Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ben Carroll reportedly informed cabinet that the offer would be put to the union, which is demanding a 35 per cent pay increase for the state’s teaching workforce over three years.

“Teachers will not get a better deal under a Liberal government if Jess Wilson were elected in November,” a government source said, according to the Australian Financial Review.

The offer has yet to be officially presented to the union.

The Government’s initial offer of 17 per cent over four years came as a last-minute plea the day before tens of thousands of teachers marched through the streets of Melbourne to “demand respect” from the Allan Government.

Taking to Reddit to air their thoughts on the latest offer, teachers have urged the union and their colleagues to hold out for a better deal.

“28% is a joke, and a VERY calculated maneuver[sic] by the gov. I'd vote no on this instantly,” one posted.

“Garbage. Don't fall for it. 28% over four years would STILL leave us chasing our tails. We need to salvage teacher wages from their steep regression. This ain't it chief,” argued another.

One teacher suggested the offer was disrespectful to the profession.

“Come on Comrades, don't fall for the government's shit. This is not a good offer, and it's not offered with respect.

“28% over 4 years - what's your salary going to look like in 4 years' time? Look at your salary now, that was average in 2022 and now is just appalling. The government has money for potholes and rego discounts. Hold the line.

“Also, what about our working conditions? School funding? Miserable ES pay offer? No no no,” they posted.

Another put out a direct plea:

“Begging anyone who will be voting on the deal we take to look up expected inflation. Our last offer was below inflation and led to a huge loss in real wages. We cannot let that happen again.” 

AEU Victorian Branch president Justin Mullaly has said Victoria’s public school employees are “sick and tired of being overworked and undervalued”.

“They are being taken for granted by Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll and will raise their voices around Victoria and significantly escalate their industrial action,” Mullaly said just before Term 2 kicked off.

The union leader has consistently reiterated that the state’s teachers are the nation’s lowest paid.

The union note that by October, experienced teachers in Victoria will be earning as much as $15,359 a year ($295 per week) less than their NSW counterparts.

“They have cut $2.4 billion from Victoria’s public schools, meaning we have the lowest funded public schools in the country,” Mullaly added..

“And right now, every state Labor MP should be ashamed of the fact that they think they can call Victoria ‘the education state’.”

One teacher argued that if the 28 per cent offer was accepted, Victorian teachers would be even more disadvantaged compared to NSW.

“A reminder that NSW starts their claim process for their NEXT pay rises in November. Which means if we accept this, we will be woefully behind AGAIN!”

Meanwhile, Tasmania’s public teachers have just voted to accept a "fair and affordable" new pay deal after a bitter industrial dispute with the Rockliff Government.

The three-year agreement provides three per cent increases in the first and second years, with 2.75 per cent in the third year.

It is backdated to begin from March this year and matches deals already accepted by police, firefighters and the broader public service.

But more than a few are surprised the state’s teachers’ union agreed to the deal.

“[Tassie teachers'] base is pretty similar to VIC. They are only a few dollars off taking the crown of lowest paid state at the moment.

“They will categorically be the lowest paid state for many years to come. Astonishing agreement,” one teacher commented online.