Shortage of teachers at ‘crisis point’
Schools use students and retired experts, or don’t offer key subjects, writes Kate Shuttleworth.
Secondary schools across the country could be forced to drop subjects as a teacher shortage reaches a ‘‘crisis point’’.
A lack of applicants for teaching positions in core subjects such as mathematics, science and technology is forcing schools to encourage older teachers out of retirement, or use untrained staff.
It is understood there are schools who have had no suitable applicants despite advertising for more than a year.
The principal of St Peter’s College in central Auckland, James Bentley, said in his latest school newsletter that the shortage had reached a ‘‘crisis point’’.
The population was ageing, and there were not enough students of teaching at university to replace experienced staff as they retired. Pay levels had ‘‘drastically’’ lagged the cost of living, especially in Auckland.
Bentley suggested the Ministry of Education should provide housing allowances for teachers in Auckland, similar to a system offered in parts of London, or a rebate on student loans.
He said schools were on the brink of cutting subjects, but he was reluctant to single any particular school out.
Canterbury’s Darfield High School principal James Morris said he advertised for six months to find a metalwork teacher and students were set paperwork tasks instead of practical work led by a teacher.
‘‘Teacher supply issues have been building for some time. We’re close enough to Christchurch – only 20 minutes’ drive away, so there should be no real issue with attracting teachers.’’
Principals spoken to by the Sunday Star-Times said schools were concealing recruitment issues for fear of harming their reputation.
We do know that schools are on the brink of not being able to offer physics, some schools are bringing in university students to teach. James Bentley St Peter’s College principal, above
‘‘We do know that schools are on the brink of not being able to offer physics, some schools are bringing in university students to teach,’’ said Bentley.
Rangitoto College principal David Hodge said many schools would have to cut subjects if the ministry did not act. Despite pleas from schools for years, the ministry had refused to acknowledge a problem was looming.
Rangitoto, one of the largest state secondary schools in Auckland, had been advertising for an electronics teacher all year, in New Zealand and overseas, without success. Its options included using an untrained teacher or someone retired who had specific subject knowledge – or cutting electronics, a core technology subject.
Auckland’s Edgewater College is using university students to teach physics.
Principal Allan Vester denied any crisis, saying one physics teacher would leave at the end of the year. However, he agreed no school would admit it had reached a tipping point on staffing.
Education Minister Hekia Parata said there were currently enough teachers, ‘‘but not necessarily in the areas or subjects that we need them in’’.
‘‘We are aware that some principals are finding it difficult to fill vacancies in some parts of the country and in certain subjects, particularly science, maths, technology and te reo Maori.
‘‘We also know that supply is tight when the economy is booming, with more opportunities for teachers to move to other careers or work in other countries.’’
In August, Parata announced a $9 million package to address the issues of teacher supply.
But she said there were no plans for a housing allowance for teachers in Auckland.
Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand president Sandy Pasley, who said the issue was reaching a critical stage, has had to entice a teacher out of retirement to teach a maths class at the school she heads, Baradene College.
She said a multi-agency planning taskforce group had been set up with the ministry to look at teacher supply issues for ‘‘hard to staff subjects’’ such as technologies, sciences, mathematics and te reo and would start meeting every six months from the end of this month.