Teachers’ pay plea rejected
The new Government has already ‘‘let down’’ students and teachers by rejecting an immediate 5 per cent pay increase, according to the Post Primary Teachers’ Association.
The union said yesterday that the decision, announced in a letter sent to its offices from the Ministry of Education, would exacerbate shortages and cripple students’ education.
Teachers called for the immediate change to their collective agreement as a way to retain and attract staff at the PPTA annual conference in October.
PPTA president Jack Boyle said secondary teachers ‘‘expected better from the Government’’, which needed help to alleviate the secondary teacher shortage.
‘‘Teachers don’t want to start the new school year in crisis mode. An immediate and comprehensive action plan is required.’’
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said the Government would enter collective bargaining with the union next year, and the issue was a matter for the ministry. ‘‘We will enter those negotiations in good faith, so it would not be appropriate to comment now.’’
He added that said a ‘‘teacher supply package’’ to combat any shortages would be announced before Christmas.
Boyle said principals and teachers were concerned schools would start 2018 without enough teachers, which would lead increased class sizes and curriculum cutbacks.
‘‘Our issues aren’t being taken seriously. We know that children are going to be the losers here: there aren’t going to be enough teachers in their schools next year.’’
He said the PPTA and the ministry had worked together to identify why there was a secondary teacher shortage.
‘‘So we know how to fix it, and teacher pay absolutely needs to be part of the solution.’’
Naenae College principal John Russell said: ‘‘I find it worrying that the minister of education can say that he knows there won’t be enough teachers to staff schools from the start of next year, and still take no action.’’
Eighty per cent of his colleagues on the Secondary Principals’ Council had made compromises when choosing suitable candidates to teach students of 2018, and some classrooms would have vacancies, he said.
Ellen MacGregor-Reid, the ministry’s deputy secretary, early learning and student achievement, said its view was that a salary rise should be considered in collective bargaining talks next year.
‘‘The ministry’s reply to the PPTA’s claim for an immediate 5 per cent pay increase confirmed that there are factors other than remuneration which may influence whether teacher supply is sufficient to meet current (and future) demands.
‘‘We also confirmed that there are a number of measures aimed at addressing teacher supply issues in place, and soon to be in place, and that the ministry wants to continue working with the PPTA on other potential solutions.
‘‘Overall, there is no shortage of teachers, but supply is tightening in certain locations, subjects and parts of the sector, including Auckland. A range of initiatives are being implemented, and the ministry is working to develop further supply solutions.’’
Any schools concerned about filling teacher vacancies could access support from contracted specialist recruiters Education Personnel or Oasis Education, she said.