11 December 2003 Media Statement
Ministerial Taskforce reports
The Ministerial Taskforce on Secondary Teacher Remuneration has reported to Education Minister Trevor Mallard with a
raft of recommendations aimed at supporting the recruitment, retention and professional development of secondary
teachers.
"The taskforce was established as a result of last year's bargaining round for the Secondary Teachers' Collective
Agreement. I asked it to develop a remuneration strategy in consultation with the sector that took into account the
issues facing the secondary teaching profession," Trevor Mallard said.
"This is a useful report. The taskforce has proposed that over time, the sector moves to a system of remuneration
incentives related to ongoing professional learning and the development of career pathways.
"The government will now consider the taskforce recommendations. They will form a basis of how we and the sector can
work together to establish effective remuneration strategies for our secondary teachers."
Trevor Mallard said members of the taskforce had met over the last nine months with teachers, principals and sector
representatives at schools throughout New Zealand. They had also considered about one thousand submissions, including
questionnaire responses, from individuals and organisations.
"I want to thank all the people involved in this process and particularly taskforce members who have worked together in
a positive and constructive way to produce this report.
"The taskforce was chaired by Dame Margaret Bazley and included a secondary principal, representatives from the Post
Primary Teacher's Association, the Ministry of Education and the New Zealand School Trustees Association.
"I hope this report paves the way for a more settled wage negotiation round next year. Establishing an effective
remuneration strategy is important for stability in the sector, and it's also important to ensure we continue to deliver
a top quality education for our students," Trevor Mallard said.
The report is available at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/mallard/secondary-teacher-remuneration
ENDS