Intermediate schools in the Western Bay are reeling over the impact of new teacher-student ratios following the Government's decision to increase class sizes.
Principals said intermediate schools would be particularly hard hit because of the impact on technology subjects.
Specialist teachers of subjects such as ICT, textiles, hard and softmaterials, art, dance, drama, electronics and music might lose their jobs. The teaching of these subjects would fall back on the responsibility of the classroom teacher.
Brian Diver, principal of New Zealand's largest intermediate, Tauranga Intermediate School, said he could be forced to shave 10 to 13 staff members from his school of 1176 pupils.
"I am very worried. It will mean a significant net loss for Tauranga Intermediate and severely impact our ability to provide the extras that are unique to intermediates."
NZEI Te Riu Roa President Ian Leckie said Education Minister Hekia Parata was being deceitful when she said teacher-student ratios would be lowered for Year 7-8 pupils.
Principal of Mount Maunganui Intermediate Lisa Morresey said student-teacher ratios at intermediate schools were currently 1:29 and student-technology teacher ratios 1:120. It appeared the Government had lumped the two together when calculating new ratios of 1:27.5.
As a result, intermediates would lose teachers and struggle to teach the curriculum under the new regime.
Expectations on teachers had "increased dramatically" and increasing class sizes and demands, in turn, negatively impacted on children, Ms Morresey said.
Principal of Otumoetai Intermediate Henk Popping said he was "devastated".
Intermediate pupils were at a critical age in their development as emerging adolescents and it was important they had rich opportunities, he said. Otumoetai Intermediate stood to lose up to six teachers. He said there had been no consultation with the education sector.
Ian Leckie said the changes wouldn't just affect intermediate schools. They'd be felt by all schools with Year 7 and 8 students.
"Under the current system primary schools which have Year 7 and 8 students have service agreements with intermediate schools. This enables them to send their students to technology centres, usually based at nearby intermediate schools. It is unlikely that those schools will be able to continue to provide that service."
