‘Cancelled classes’ to be investigated
A year 13 student was brought in to look after a class as the ‘‘unprecedented’’ teacher deficit worsens, a teachers’ union says.
The Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) is campaigning for the problem to be urgently addressed. It comes as claims of big or cancelled classes have led the Government to order the Ministry of Education to investigate.
The Education Gazette yesterday had 172 jobs nationwide.
The union said specialised classes were being taught by unqualified teachers and multilevel NCEA classes were being taught in single lessons.
Nationwide, one-in-five teachers were older than 60 and planned to retire soon; there were 40 per cent fewer trainee teachers than eight years ago; 40 per cent of new teachers left within five years; and principals admitted to employing staff they would not normally hire. The union is currently in collective negotiations and, while better pay rates were one aspect needed to attract more teachers, other factors such as work conditions and class sizes played a part, PPTA Wellington chairman Ahmad Osama said.
Union president Jack Boyle knew of one school – which he would not name – where a year 13 student looked after a junior class. He also knew of senior classes with no available teachers, meaning the classes looked after themselves.
Relievers had largely been brought into teaching fulltime. While vacancies were down on the same time in 2018, this was largely because schools were ditching specialised subjects, Boyle said.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said claims of big and cancelled classes were ‘‘concerning’’. ‘‘I will ask the ministry to investigate. It should not be happening.’’
Ministry of Education’s Ellen MacGregor-Reid said year 13 students should not be looking after classes and, if the PPTA notified the ministry, it would investigate. A pop-up cafe run by people affected by HIV has been launched for the first time in New Zealand.
Thirty volunteers were serving at cafe+, at Auckland’s Big Gay Out yesterday. Thousands were expected at Coyle Park in Point Chevalier for the annual event, which is part of the Pride Festival.
A 2018 Colmar Brunton survey showed 42 per cent of New Zealanders were uncomfortable with someone with HIV preparing their food. Volunteer Charlie Tredway said the poll results were disheartening as there was no risk of HIV being spread from sharing or preparing food.
Tredway, 33, is the chairman of Body Positive, a peer support organisation for HIV-positive people. He has been living with HIV for 12 years. ‘‘I know how harmful misconceptions around HIV can be for people who are newly diagnosed but also for the public. ‘‘Times have changed a lot since the 1980s where the perception was we weren’t able to share cutlery or prepare food, or love and experience our lives to the fullest,’’ Tredway said.
Jane Bruning, the national coordinator of Positive Women Inc, said stigma and discrimination were still the biggest barriers for people living with HIV.