Big Bucks for Educators
Imagine this: you’re a secondary school teacher and you just found out your salary is getting a whopping 14.5% boost! That’s the reality for teachers in New Zealand, as the government has given the green light to a substantial pay rise. This isn’t just a drop in the bucket – it adds a hefty $680 million to the $3.76 billion already set aside for teacher and principal pay agreements.
What’s in it for New Teachers?
For those just dipping their toes into the teaching pool, this means an extra $10,000 a year, plus a lump sum payment of $7210. That’s a pretty sweet deal, right? Education Minister Jan Tinetti certainly thinks so.
The offer provides an increase of 36% for teachers at the top of the pay scale since we’ve been in government, compared to a 10% increase under the last National government.
Jan Tinetti, Education Minister
Where’s the Money Coming From?
Now, you might be wondering where all this extra cash is coming from. Well, the government has been digging deep into its pockets, finding savings from the Ministry of Education’s departmental funding, a forecast underspend on staffing, and by making some adjustments to certain projects and funding allocations.
What About the Impact on Education?
Minister Tinetti assures us that these changes have been carefully considered to minimize the impact on students’ learning. She said,
We’ve given this very, very careful consideration… any reprioritisation and changing around in the funding are going to have the least impact on young people’s learning as we possibly can.
Jan Tinetti, Education Minister
Additional Allowances and Exclusions
But that’s not all! The panel’s recommendation to include an additional allowance for tikanga expertise has also been accepted. This means teachers who take on extra responsibilities like leading kapa haka or karanga or whaikōrero will get a little extra recognition. However, kura kaupapa Māori and Māori-medium education schools won’t be affected by the removal of the bank staffing option.
What’s Next?
So, what happens now? Well, the ball is in the court of the PPTA members. If they accept the deal, base salaries will start to rise in increments. The government is aiming to follow a similar timeline to the six-week period taken for the primary teachers’ deal. And, according to Minister Tinetti, this is the government’s “final offer”.
Update: teachers have now accepted the offer and a series of pay raises will now follow.
Final Thoughts
It’s clear that this is a big step forward for teachers. As Minister Tinetti said, “I’m excited for them, and I’m excited for the valuing of teachers that this government has shown today.” So, let’s hear it for our teachers – they’re worth every penny!