PPTA claim aims to enhance the profession

Media Release
4 May 2007

PPTA claim aims to enhance the profession

Ensuring effective teaching for all students and making secondary teaching a first choice profession are the key goals of PPTA’s Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement (STCA) claim lodged with the Ministry of Education.

PPTA president Robin Duff said the claim was about making secondary teaching a more attractive profession, and empowering secondary teachers to deliver for all students.

“To achieve that we need the best possible teachers and attractive conditions so schools can recruit and retain them. It’s about showing we value students by valuing teachers, valuing education and valuing learning.”

“This claim is about ensuring all students, regardless of their location or background, can
receive effective teaching that best meets their individual needs and abilities.”

The salary component of the claim comprises three annual increases of four percent. The increase is based on the median labour cost index over the past year.

But Mr Duff said the conditions improvements – smaller class sizes, more funding for professional learning, more career pathways for teachers, support and resourcing for middle and senior management and a bonding allowance for graduates – were equally important.

“While keeping salaries competitive salary is important for the attraction and retention of high quality and well qualified teachers, the wrap around package is equally important if we are to add value to the profession and enhance learning.

“For instance, through smaller class sizes teachers can spend more time with their students and personalise learning to their needs.

“With more funding for professional learning, teachers will have time to research into their practice and ensure the best learning opportunities are there for students.

“More time and support for our middle and senior managers, for our new graduates and for part-timers will enable them to be more effective.

“Students’ learning conditions are teachers’ working conditions. We need to make teaching a job people want to do and schools places students want to be.”

ENDS

See...
Summary of Salaries and Unit Increases (PDF)
PPTA Backgrounder on Claim (PDF)

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