Hon Chris Carter
Minister of Education

14 May 2008 Media Statement

Schools coping well in tight labour market

Predicted teacher shortages for this school year have not eventuated with more than 99 percent of positions filled, Education Minister Chris Carter says.

The Ministry of Education’s annual staffing survey showed schools were coping well in a tight labour market and with growing staffing needs.

Overall, vacancies represented 0.9 percent of all full-time equivalent staffing entitlement across schools, a similar position to the previous four years, according to the survey.

Chris Carter said the results were a credit to the effort schools and the Ministry of Education had put in to finding solutions to a tight teacher supply situation.

“We still have work to do,” Chris Carter said, “but the introduction of Career Changer scholarships last year, aimed at attracting skilled people to subject areas such as technology, has had a positive impact on teacher supply.”

Schools were also becoming increasingly innovative and professional in their approach to recruitment. That, and the efforts of TeachNZ staff going to the UK, Canada and Australia to attract trained teachers, had paid off.

The survey showed there were fewer overseas-trained teachers and beginning teachers starting work in New Zealand schools in 2008 than last year.

While technology remained the hardest secondary subject to staff, there were fewer unfilled positions for the subject than last year.

Teacher supply was likely to be an issue for New Zealand schools in future, the Minister said.

For full survey results go to:
http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/series/2519

ENDS

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