"We're not looking for people with missionary zeal, who want to save the world, but people who understand socio-economic realities," he said. "We want to diversify the pool of graduates and hope to get Maori and Pasifika applicants."
However, Post Primary Teachers' Association president Robin Duff warned that partially trained teachers would end up in schools with the most vulnerable students.
"There may be tension in schools between beginning teachers with traditional training and those coming from a fast-track course," he said.
"It costs a lot of money to take part in a year-long training programme; fast track students are being paid while they train."
The University of Auckland's dean of education, Graeme Aitken, disagreed that it was a fast-track programme: "The course is condensed, so what you would get on a year-long course can be achieved in six weeks," said Aitken. "A year-long course has a lot of non-contact time, when trainees are out in schools."
In the South Auckland suburb of Pakuranga, Edgewater College principal Allan Vester, who is also head of the Secondary Principals' Council, said Teach First would bring in top graduates that wouldn't normally be attracted to teaching.
"Once they teach, they realise the difference they can make. The same scheme in the US has graduates from Goldman Sachs - they bring a new social awareness from that company." It was a positive step to get non-traditional teachers in the door.