10th September 2009 For Immediate Release

Bad News For An Already Stretched Teacher Workforce

New Zealand primary teachers are working longer and harder for less pay which the education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says has serious implications for an already stretched teacher workforce.

The latest OECD Education at a Glance Report shows that of the 29 countries surveyed, New Zealand primary teachers had the second highest number of net teaching hours at 985 hours a year. The OECD average is 798 hours. The report also shows starting salaries for primary teachers are the fourth lowest in the OECD and even after 15 years experience New Zealand teacher salaries are well behind.

NZEI President Frances Nelson says the figures come as no surprise, but are particularly alarming when coupled with an ageing workforce and government plans to cut tens of millions out of teacher staffing budgets. The OECD report shows that New Zealand has a very high percentage of teachers in the near retirement 60+ age bracket – 8.6% against the OECD average of 3.7%.

There is a global teacher shortage and New Zealand schools are expecting a big surge in enrolments when the recent baby boom hits. Frances Nelson says with the government set to slash millions out of teacher staffing budgets over the next three years, there are big questions over where all the teachers are going to come from.

“Why would someone want to enter the profession or come to New Zealand to teach when we work them longer and harder, and give them less pay for the pleasure? We need bigger carrots to recruit and retain teachers and they are rooted in better pay and conditions.”

She also says teacher workload problems will be compounded next year by the introduction of National Standards at the same time as schools are working to implement the new curriculum.

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