ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Govt denies teacher shortage in light of new plan to boost numbers

Author
Frances Cook,
Publish Date
Fri, 19 Aug 2016, 2:51PM
Education Minister Hekia Parata says there is no teacher shortage crisis in New Zealand (NZH).

Govt denies teacher shortage in light of new plan to boost numbers

Author
Frances Cook,
Publish Date
Fri, 19 Aug 2016, 2:51PM

UPDATED 4.43PM The Government's putting $9 million into boosting teacher numbers, but says the shortage isn't a crisis.

The plan includes 100 extra scholarships per year to train science, technology and maths teachers.

Kiwi teachers overseas will also be actively recruited to come home.

LISTEN ABOVE: Secondary Principals' Association president Sandy Paisley speaks with Larry Williams about the plan

Education Minister Hekia Parata said a lot of New Zealand teachers head overseas, where they get experience that would be valuable back here.

"Why wouldn't we target New Zealand teachers who we know qualified in our system, we know they've grown these skills overseas, we know that New Zealand is an exciting place to be."

Ms Parata said they're very proud of the plan, but don't agree with those who says it's a response to a crisis situation.

"For the school experiencing the vacancy and finding it difficult to fill it, it can be a crisis for them. But there's no overall crisis in New Zealand - there are particular shortages."

But Labour's education spokesperson Chris Hipkins said the Government's been burying its head in the sand about the shortage until now.

"Schools have been saying for years now that they advertise jobs and that they aren't getting applicants and that they're getting the wrong type of applicants and the Government have been turning a blind eye to that."

Mr Hipkins said the shortage is already at crisis level in some areas. He said the Government can't rest on its laurels if it wants to fully address the problem.

"We need to be looking at who's going in to teacher training, have we got the right people going in to teacher training, are we training enough teachers and are we training them in the right areas."

The Secondary Principals' Association says boosting teacher numbers is a great idea, but attracting people to teaching will continue to be a challenge.

The Association says the plan will help address the nationwide shortage of teachers in science, technology and maths.

But president Sandy Paisley told Larry Williams attracting skilled technology graduates can be a challenge, when other sectors will pay them a lot more.

"To teach those subjects well, you need the graduate degree in those subjects so that you understand all the implications of the concepts students need to pick up early on."

Ms Paisley said the Government is also extending a programme, to give graduates in those subjects teacher training on the job.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you