Demand for ‘greater incentives’
‘‘All teachers need a pay rise immediately without hesitation.’’
To show staff that they are valued and thanked, schools in Ma¯ngere held a staff appreciation day.
Funded by the Ma¯ngere Principal’s Association (MPA), approximately 770 staff from various schools were treated to a morning tea.
‘‘All teachers need a pay rise immediately without hesitation,’’ Scott Symes, president of the MPA says. He is also the principal of Sir Douglas Bader Intermediate.
‘‘Clearly Auckland is strug- gling and South Auckland in particular, with attracting and retaining quality teachers and support staff,’’ he says.
‘‘There has to be greater incentives for teachers. I think if [the Ministry of Education] dealt with the lack of funding for our most at-risk students, provided dedicated SENCOs [Special Education Needs Coordinators] to low decile schools, had improved wrap-around social services and reduced class sizes that would go a long way to improving outcomes for students within South Auckland.’’
He says support staff need to be ‘‘paid a living wage and have paid professional development’’.
While the Ministry has committed around $20 million since August last year on a range of initiatives to address teacher supply issues, principals say they still face a crisis.
Jacqualene Maindonald, principal of Ma¯ngere Central School says bringing teachers from over- seas is not a solution.
Instead teaching as a career should be made ‘‘more attractive rather than looking for overseas teachers’’.
‘‘Personally, I just don’t think having South African or English teachers come to our culture will actually help.’’
Lowering tertiary fees and increasing financial support in housing, would also make a differ- ence, she says.
Caretaker Education Minister Nikki Kaye says this issue will be a ‘‘high priority’’ if National are able to form the next Government.
‘‘I have listened to what principals have been telling me, and recently announced the voluntary bonding scheme will apply to all schools in Auckland from next year.’’
The scheme is available for new teaching graduates and pays up to $17,500 over five years, on top of a normal salary, for continuous teaching in an eligible school.