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Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Principals Describe Budget As Bitter Sweet
Principals say the boost to Learning Support from Budget 2025 is the most substantial in years, even though there is a cost through other valuable resources. "For schools, this Budget has delivered a breakthrough. The Government has recognised the intense pressures teachers and principals are under with minimal support," said Leanne Otene, President of the New Zealand Principals' Federation. (NZPF). "We have been calling for a substantial increase to learning support, especially for our most vulnerable tamariki, for years, and at last we have been heard," said Otene. "The Additional Learning Support Coordinators, Teacher Aide hours, 25 new specialist classrooms and specialist services will make a huge difference to our schools," said Otene. "Our only concern is where these people will come from," she said. "We have often been told there are not enough qualified specialists to cover schools' needs and more will have to be trained," she said. Principals were also pleased that the Minister has recognised the role of principals and the minimal support they receive. The additional Leadership Advisors will give confidence to principals, especially those new to the role. "We are thrilled to see an increase in the number of Leadership Advisors. Principals report high satisfaction rates with the existing service which now gets a boost from 16 to 34 Leadership Advisors across the country," she said. "That will still not be enough, but it is a step in the right direction," she said. Otene also acknowledged what services have been reprioritised in the Budget process, "We have lost valued services such as Resource Teachers of Literacy, Resource Teachers of Maori the Kahui Ako collaborations and the halt to pay equity will affect our future Teacher Aide staff." " I call it the 'Bitter-Sweet Budget," said Otene, "because the gains in learning support resources and leadership support are hugely welcome, but it is at the cost of losing other valued resources," she said. Otene was clear that if the new funding is to be effective, it must be 'demand driven' and not restricted to a single Budget. "This funding needs to be locked in and grow to meet the real needs in our schools," said Otene. "This gives us a great kick start, but more is needed for long term changes in learning and behaviour," she said.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Maths Support Funding A Mixed Bag Say Principals
"All new funding for curriculum is welcome funding," said Leanne Otene, President of the New Zealand Principals' Federation (NZPF), in response to the Minister of Education's announcement to fund the mathematics curriculum an additional $100m over four years. The funding is intended for early intervention - $4million for maths checks at year 2 - $56 million for 143 full time maths intervention teachers for targeted support for years 0 - 6 students, and $40million for small group tutoring for up to 34,000 year 7 - 8 students. On the year 2 maths check Otene said, "Our teachers already know the curriculum expectations at year 2, and teachers know which students are not meeting those expectations," she said. "There is much research evidence to show that compulsory testing in primary school leads to negative unintended consequences which are not helpful," said Otene. "What we need is additional support to help develop positive attitudes to maths, and build confidence in our young students," she said, "and $4 million won't be enough to do that. "The $56 million for 143 new full time maths intervention teachers for our year 0-6 children would be very helpful," said Otene, " and if the Minister can find and appoint those teachers full time, that could make a difference,' she said. "The remaining $40million for small group tutoring for year 7-8 students not yet meeting the curriculum expectations, is great, but it would be helpful to first see the outcome of the pilot study currently underway with these students," she said, "before committing to a particular course of action." "The Minister has been clear that the maths intervention money is to target tier 2 support - targeted class intervention, rather than our most vulnerable students requiring tier 3 support," said Otene. "We trust that the Minister is saving her biggest learning support funding boost for Budget Day," she said.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Principals Welcome Government Teacher Registration Relief
Principals across the country welcome the Minister's announcement today, that the Government will be paying Teacher Registration and Practicing Certificate fees ($550.00 every three years), from July 2025. "Principals welcome this initiative," said Gavin Beere, who heads up the NZPF Executive Pou on policy. "We are optimistic that it will attract more relief staff and help us retain more beginning teachers," he said. "Staff shortages are an issue for many schools right across the country," he said, "and we hope that this move might help, at least a little bit," he said. The Minister also announced that she will be making further Budget related announcements next week. "Principals will all be hoping for an announcement to substantially boost learning support," said Beere. "Since the Government introduced the 'inclusion' policy in the mid-1980s, so that every child, irrespective of ability or capability, could attend their local school, the policy has never been properly funded," he said. "Principals are of one voice when it comes to learning support," he said. "It is every principal's number one priority and we look forward to the Minister who is courageous enough to recognise the need and properly fund it," he said.
