Primary teachers choose outcomes for children over more income

The Government’s $359m IES policy was scuttled by New Zealand’s primary teaching profession last Thursday when over 70 per cent voted not to enter formal bargaining to vary the relevant Collective Agreements.

“Teachers and principals have been debating this policy all year,” president of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation Philip Harding said.

“We have brought in overseas experts to share their views on it, we have consulted with our own New Zealand academic community, and principals from across the country have met together to debate its pros and cons,” he said.

“We all support the Government’s goal to raise student achievement and the best way to do that is to invest the money in programmes and initiatives that make a difference for all kids, and not in a few teachers’ and principals’ pay packets.

“Had the sector been invited to co-construct the policy from the start it would have been shaped very differently, and could have relied on the wisdom and experience of the profession to recommend the very best solutions to raise children’s achievement in a New Zealand context, with all its diversity, social and economic challenges,’ Mr Harding said.

“There are initiatives in place that we know make a difference. These just need further investment to reach more kids.”

There are some aspects embedded within the policy that the sector supports. These include encouraging more teacher and principal collaboration, sharing good practice, and investing more in professional learning.

“The public must ask why teaching professionals have turned their back on an opportunity to increase their own salaries. It’s because the profession is more focused on supporting initiatives that can work for all children, than simply feathering their own nests,” Mr Harding said.