Solutions needed for crisis in recruiting teachers

Solutions needed for crisis in recruiting teachers

19 July 2016

The affordable housing shortage that is driving teachers out of Auckland is now being seen in other towns and needs to be addressed quickly.

A survey of Auckland primary schools indicates a massive and growing problem in our biggest city, but housing issues are being felt around the country for those in average-paying jobs said NZEI President Louise Green.

“We’ve heard of Queenstown school teachers having to live in Cromwell and Alexandra, and a school in Whitianga publically appealing for rental properties for new teachers because there was nothing advertised locally. Places like Hamilton are also suffering as the Auckland price rises ripple out.”

“Workforce planning in the education sector is long overdue. We don’t have the information we need about areas of surplus and shortages,” said Ms Green.

“The root of the problem is the cost of housing, but even a raft of effective policies aren’t going to fix the issue overnight. The Ministry of Education needs to continue to work with the sector to find practical solutions quickly because this workforce problem is not going to fix itself.”

May Road School Principal Lynda Stuart said fellow principals had noticed a marked increase in the difficulty of recruiting teachers even in just the past three or four months.

“They’re also really struggling to get relievers because relievers are now taking fulltime positions,” she said.

“Beginning teachers in many parts of the country are still struggling to get permanent work, but they need strong mentoring and support in their first years of teaching. If schools hire too many beginning teachers, who is going to mentor them?” she said.

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