'The solutions are not cheap' - primary teachers to consider asking for 16 per cent 'pay jolt'

Primary teachers and principals will consider negotiating for a 16 per cent pay rise as nationwide meeting are set to be held to address "the crisis in recruiting and retaining teachers, the lack of time to teach and the inadequate resourcing for children with additional learning needs", NZEI says. 

NZEI Te Riu Roa president Lynda Stuart said in a press release teachers were "fleeing education".

She said the occupation was seen as undesirable as the sector saw a 40 per cent decrease in teacher training.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins told 1 NEWS there was: "absolutely no doubt this government has inherited a major issue of a demoralised and overworked teacher workforce and forecasts of major shortages in just a few years time unless something is done". 

“Anything related to teacher pay and conditions will be subject to negotiations in a pay round later this year so I’m not in a position to comment at this point.

"We have, however, begun work on a comprehensive education workforce strategy, with a focus on attracting, recruiting and retaining and high quality education workforce."

Ms Stuart said drastic improvements were needed. 

"The solutions are not cheap, but tackling these issues head-on is the only way to stop this crisis in teacher numbers turning into an unmitigated disaster for our children's future education," she said today. 

"We need to address these issues now, otherwise the crisis in teaching will only escalate and we’ll be faced with classes of 40 or more children."

"The lack of time to actually teach and the inadequate pay of teachers is making recruiting and retention extremely difficult right across the country."

NZEI would use the upcoming collective agreement negotiations to look at solutions to the crisis, "including a significant pay jolt to address the growing teacher shortage", the press release said. 

Members of NZEI would look at asking for a pay increase of 16 per cent over two years, and look at funding for special learning needs coordinators.