Tracey Martin MP
Spokesperson for Education

7 May 2013

Minister Must Clarify Government’s Education Agenda

New Zealand First is asking the Government for an assurance that it is not going to use the Novopay debacle to sneak in changes to the teacher pay scales system.

Education spokesperson Tracey Martin says today’s announcement by Minister Steven Joyce states that the rolling review into Novopay will likely include a revision of the ‘business procedures of the school payroll to reduce the complexity in the system’.

“Match this statement with those made by Education Minister Hekia Parata last year about the multiple pay scale levels for teaching staff, making the overall system complex, and a frightening image starts to take form.

“What this could mean is the first step to removing the pay scales for teachers that has been in place for decades, and replacing it with a structure of base payments topped with bonus pay.

“Teachers should be worried about these statements from the Government and should be demanding assurances immediately that changing the teacher pay scales is not part of this Government’s agenda,” says Ms Martin.

ENDS

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