Auckland teacher shortage building
More than two-thirds of Auckland’s new primary and intermediate teachers are thinking about leaving the city because of the cost of living, a survey has found.
The survey, conducted by primary and intermediate teachers’ union the New Zealand Educational Institute, polled more than 450 Auckland teachers with up to two years’ experience.
It found that 94 per cent of male teachers under 35 were thinking about leaving or definitely leaving Auckland. Sixty-four per cent of all the teachers surveyed had given up hope of ever owning their own home in Auckland.
Meanwhile, 40 per cent of female teachers under 30 were were putting off having children because of the high cost of living.
NZEI said the results showed the Auckland teacher shortage would soon become a ‘‘bigger disaster’’ than previously thought.
Balmoral School principal and NZEI strategist on Auckland issues Malcolm Milner said it was ‘‘beyond time for action’’ on the issue.
The union felt that teachers’ pay was too low and the cost and provision of housing was a significant factor in the shortage.
‘‘NZEI members want to know if the Government has a plan for addressing the crisis, and if so, what it is. If the Government does not have a plan, then the question is why not? If it does, then show it to us.
‘‘This survey indicates that in the future you’re going to see even fewer teachers available, or wanting to work in Auckland than now. This will have a major impact on the quality of education for children in Auckland.’’
Ellen MacGregor-Reid, deputy secretary early learning and student achievement at the Ministry of Education, said Auckland was experiencing ‘‘some supply pressure as a ‘mini baby-boom’ moves through the education system and the city grows’’.
‘‘It’s important to note the number of teachers in Auckland has also grown with 1786 more teachers in Auckland in 2016 than in 2006 [taking the number of teachers in Auckland schools to about 21,700]. Data shows that teacher retention remains generally high at both the national level and the Auckland level at over 92 per cent.’’
MacGregor-Reid said the number of advertised vacancies gave ‘‘some limited insight into actual demand and supply’’ and the latest advertised vacancy data for Auckland was 221 for June.
‘‘The Government has put in place a $9 million supply package to ensure that Auckland, along with the rest of New Zealand, has sufficient supply of quality registered teachers.
‘‘In addition we are working with education leaders in Auckland and have put in place some targeted initiatives for teacher supply in Auckland,’’ MacGregorReid said.
But Milner said any plan needed to raise the status of teaching and the pay and conditions offered.
It was ‘‘devastating’’ to think of Auckland losing a generation of teachers because they could not afford to live in the city, he said.
Adam Tamariki, 31, who has been a teacher at Rosscommon School in Manurewa for three years, said house prices would drive him away from Auckland if they didn’t change.
‘‘I love the job, wouldn’t do anything else. But to be honest, I’ve been thinking of leaving Auckland since my first year teaching.
‘‘I knew it would be expensive when I started out but it hasn’t really got any better.’’
Recently married, Tamariki said planning a future with a family in Auckland was proving difficult.
‘‘That can’t necessarily happen if this [housing] crisis continues in Auckland the way it is, which is sad because I love teaching in South Auckland.
‘‘Friends of mine have gone to places like New Plymouth where the rent is like half price, and they are still able to get the same pay and passion from their job. That looks pretty ideal to me if I want to have a family.’’
Other survey respondents reported not being able to move out of their parents’ place, considering taking on a second job/ weekend job or face being slaves to a mortgage.