Teacher Shortage
The school system is not making the grade
As the 2025 school year kicks off, a slew of problems await students, teachers and the government.
Govt announces $95m teacher training boost
The government is hoping a combination of scholarships and school-based training will head off a shortfall of nearly 2500 teachers by 2025. Education Correspondent John Gerritsen reports. Audio
Kids’ futures at stake over teacher shortage, principal says
Poor pay, ballooning class sizes and increasingly challenging working conditions have pushed primary school teachers to breaking point. Reporter Nita Blake-Persen and cameraman Nick Monro visited a… Video, Audio
Kids missing out due to teacher shortage, school says
Papatoetoe West School had to close one of its classes this year because it couldn't find a teacher, and says it could also be forced to do it again next year. Video, Audio
Principals sceptical Govt can fix teacher shortfall
Secondary schools struggling with the teacher shortage need to brace themselves - it could get a lot worse. Education Ministry modelling shows they are facing a shortfall of 2200 teachers by 2025. Audio
Principals warn the 'real' teacher shortage crisis is masked
Principals are warning the public does not understand the severity of the teacher shortage as they are taking stop-gap measures, such as supervising several classes at once and offering fewer clases.
…ECE leaders warn of "toxic stress" for under-two-year-olds
Inadequate care at early childhood centres, including the flouting of minimum staffing levels, may be causing babies and infants to suffer what's being described as toxic stress levels. John Gerritsen… Video, Audio
Back to school: Whetu Cormick
Many schools re-open this week. And we're hearing constantly about the teacher shortage, particularly in Auckland. There are many reasons for that - including the status of the teaching profession… Audio
Teacher aides may cover for Auckland teachers in 2018
Auckland primary schools fear they will have to use teacher aides in place of teachers next year and they want the government to pay for it. The city's principals have asked the Education Minister… Audio
Teacher aides could stand in for teachers in Auckland
Auckland primary schools fear they will have to use teacher aides in place of teachers next year and they want the government to pay for it. The city's principals have asked the Education Minister… Audio
'Schools shouldn't be finance companies' - Principal
An NZEI survey of more than 600 primary and intermediate schools has shown that despite the pressure on school operational budgets, four in five could scrap donations. About 82 per cent of the… Audio
Teachers leaving Auckland for greener pastures
An NZEI survey indicates a fifth of the city's primary and intermediate schools expect to start next year with unfilled vacancies and a quarter are still unsure if they will have enough teachers. Audio
What does new govt mean for education?
Education was also a key election issue. With huge pressures on Auckland schools especially, RNZ education correspondent John Gerritsen says there are high expectations. Audio
Excessive red tape deters international teachers
Teachers moving to Auckland from overseas to help fill the city's teaching shortage say lengthy and expensive red tape is forcing them to head home again and warn others against making the move. Audio
Perfect storm creates Auckland teacher shortage
Kathryn Ryan examines the complex factors behind Auckland's chronic teacher shortage with the Presidents of the city's principals' associations. James Thomas is the President of the Auckland secondary… Audio
Auckland schools fear relief teacher shortage
Auckland school principals are worried they won't be able to find relievers to fill in when teachers are sick or on leave this year. They say it is making it difficult to release their best teachers… Audio
'Too choosy': Auckland teacher shortage claims rubbished
Unemployed teachers are disputing claims of a teacher shortage in Auckland, saying many qualified people are looking for work. Audio
Pupils due back but Auckland schools still scrambling to find teachers
School principals in Auckland say they are struggling to find enough teachers before classes start next week.
Teacher shortage: recruited within hours of application
Schools are so desperate for physics teachers that one new graduate was offered a job at an Auckland High School within six hours of applying for it. Joanna MacKenzie investigates. Audio
Auckland schools prepare for 2017 teacher shortage
The president of the Auckland Primary Principals Association, Diane Manners, tells John Gerritson teachers don't want to move to Auckland and recruitment for middle management positions is… Audio
