Nineteen education sector groups met 2–3 September to discuss teacher supply in Aotearoa New Zealand. The group comprises peak education bodies including teacher education providers, professional bodies and unions as well as representatives of students and beginning teachers.
The right of every child to a quality public education is dependent on a high-quality teaching workforce. The education sector groups agreed there is a chronic and critical shortage of teachers across the early childhood, primary and secondary sectors and there is an immediate need to find a systemic solution to prevent further attrition.
The supply of teachers in Aotearoa is jeopardised by a variety of factors. School and centre leaders have been warning for many years that the number of successful teachers entering teaching is in decline with recent research by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand showing that 58% of teachers are likely to leave the teaching profession in the next five years.
The education sector groups agreed to formulate solutions for the challenges of teacher supply. The group will be designing innovations with a focus on recruitment, education, and retention. The solutions will require a focus on remuneration, working conditions and raising the status of the teaching profession.
The education sector groups are calling for a stop to education being used as a political football; a stop to the sheer volume of change without appropriate consultation; and a stop to attacks on the unique Aotearoa education context which is underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The education sector groups will be compiling a coherent set of solutions to enhance the teaching profession, replace the current piecemeal approach, and create a sustainable workforce. These solutions will define foundational values and priorities for a cohesive and informed development of the supply of teachers for decision makers now and in the future.