'We need them' - $217m special education funding boost shows Government's priority, says Jacinda Ardern

November 5, 2018

However, the Prime Minister said there was still a lot of work to do in the education sector.

The recently announced funding boost for teachers of special education shows "how much of a priority is it" to the Government, says Jacinda Ardern. 

However, as teaching pay disputes remain ahead of a looming primary school teacher strike, the Prime Minister acknowledged there was still work to do. 

The Government announced yesterday it would be committing $217m in funding for an extra 600 coordinators in schools for special needs teacher support.

The PM says it’ll be a gamechanger for teachers, freeing them up to do their jobs and teach Kiwi kids.

On TVNZ1's Q+A, Ms Ardern said the Government also have "a number of initiatives on the go" to attempt to increase teacher numbers in the special needs area. 

"We need them both in the classroom and in roles like this."

"Secondly, we're actually going to work alongside the education community to find the way this role will work and the kind of skills we will be looking for."

Ms Ardern anticipated they would be paid at the same scale rate as teachers, and it had been suggested they be qualified as teachers.

"That means over a four-year period we're spending roughly half a billion dollars on special education, that is how much of a priority is it."

The special needs funding boost was welcomed across the House, with Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson saying it would "relieve pressure for teachers whilst also giving more kids a better chance in life".

It was also praised by National's Nikki Kaye.   

"This investment will help ensure students with additional learning needs get more support," Ms Kaye said.

"But with demand for teachers so high the plan relies on the Government getting its teacher recruitment and retention strategy right to fill shortages now and in the future and to avoid the planned teacher strikes.

"The Government must conclude pay negotiations for existing teachers and ensure the 600 staff are paid enough and other workload and retention issues are addressed to attract the right people."

Teachers voted overwhelmingly last month for more strikes in an effort to get smaller class sizes, more resources and a significant increase in salaries.

When questioned by host Corin Dann over teacher pay, Ms Ardern said they acknowledged there was "a lot of work to do".

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