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NZEI: Two issues holding New Zealanders back from a teaching career

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 20 Jan 2020, 10:49AM
(Photo / File)

NZEI: Two issues holding New Zealanders back from a teaching career

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 20 Jan 2020, 10:49AM

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on advertising to get overseas teachers into our classrooms.

More than 500 overseas teachers have been placed into roles since September 2018, and more than 860 overseas-based teachers have received relocation grants to take up teaching positions in New Zealand.

President of the New Zealand Education Institute primary teachers' union Liam Rutherford says this filling of classrooms with foreign teachers needs to be a short-term solution.

He says there are two things holding New Zealanders back from a teaching career. The first issue starts with getting the numbers studying teaching at university.

"I think we've got gaps across the sector. I know there's a genuine shortage in primary teachers, but at the same time I know there are particular subjects within secondary school that are very much sought after."

He says the second issue is around ensuring that teaching is a desirable profession that people want to do.

 

 

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