Important information about teachers’ vote this week rejecting the “Investing in Educational Success” policy
Dear Parents and Caregivers
You may have heard in the media this week that New Zealand’s teachers and principals have
voted to reject the government’s Investing in Educational Success policy.
I wanted to write to you to explain the reasons behind the decision and what this may mean
for our school.
What is Investing in Educational Success?
In January the government announced this new policy, aimed at raising the quality of
teaching to improve student achievement, backed by $359 million of new funding over four
years.
The policy proposed that all primary and secondary schools would be grouped into clusters
of about 10 schools, with each cluster led by an Executive Principal from one of the schools,
who would be paid an extra $40,000 a year and work two days a week across the cluster.
About 1000 Expert Teachers would receive an extra $20,000 a year and spend two days a
week out of their own classroom while they mentored other teachers across the cluster.
About 5000 Lead Teachers would be role models to teachers within their cluster.
Why are teachers and principals opposed to it?
Like their colleagues around the country, teachers at our school could see no direct benefit
for our students from this policy. Teachers have a number of concerns, but the key issues
are:
1) Teachers want the money to go to much-needed frontline resources for students,
not into another tier of management.
2) The relationship and continuity of learning between primary students and their
teachers is very important for effective learning. Taking an Expert Teacher out of
their classroom for 40 per cent of the time, to be replaced by relievers, could have a
negative effect on students’ learning.
