Ministry of Education offer disappoints Bay of Plenty principals

Striking primary and intermediate school teachers marched and rallied in Rotorua in mid-August. Photo / File

Primary school teachers and principals have rejected the Government's latest offers of settlement, saying it does not address the teacher shortage that is at "crisis point".

Bay of Plenty principals said they are disappointed by the offer.

The week-long, secret online ballot for New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa members for a revised offer by the Ministry of Education closed on Tuesday night.

The latest offer for teachers included a three-year term from the date of settlement, an increase in the base salary scale by 3 per cent each year for three years, no provisions for reducing workloads and class sizes or committed funding for supporting children with additional learning needs.

The revised offer for principals included a three-year term date of settlement, increase base salary scale by 3 per cent each year from date of settlement for principals with more than 100 students at their schools.

Also an increase base salary scale by 4.5 per cent, plus 4.5 per cent plus 4.4 per cent a year from the date of settlement for principals of schools with fewer than 100 students as well as no provisions to address workload.

Rotorua Principals' Association president and Rotokawa School principal Briar Stewart said the offer had been disappointing and it wasn't enough.

"The outcome I don't think was any surprise for staff members in that they were disappointed with what was put on the table.

Rotokawa School principal and Rotorua Principals' Association president Briar Stewart. Photo / File

"We're really looking for stuff that makes a difference and quickly."

Stewart said she didn't know for sure whether there would be more strike action taken.

"There's going to be a talk around what other things could be an option ... at the end of the day, it has an impact on kids and that doesn't sit well with teachers."

Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin said she was "disappointed" and "slightly surprised" teachers chose to reject the latest offer.

When asked what is next, she said: "I hope NZEI and the Ministry of Education will get back to the table and work constructively together to try and come to an arrangement."

She was not prepared to say if the Government was willing to offer even more money in any potential future talks.

Rotorua Intermediate principal Garry de Thierry said teachers felt the offer didn't address key concerns.

"The main areas that the claim was about allowing teachers to get on and teach, being able to have a lower number in the class or extra support.

"It was about personnel rather than just money."

Garry de Theirry, principal of Rotorua Intermediate School. Photo / File

Greerton Village School principal Anne Mackintosh believed the situation had got beyond the money.

"We can't find relievers, we are having to split classes - it just puts a lot of pressure and stress on everyone," she said.

"No matter how good a teacher is, if you have got 10 extra kids in your class it makes things difficult."

Mackintosh has been a principal for more than 30 years and said she had never seen a situation like this.

"We do have a crisis. It has got to be more than about the money," she said. "It is not attractive for young people to come into it anymore."

Greerton Village School principal Anne Mackintosh. Photo/File

Matt Simeon, of the Western Bay of Plenty Principals' Association, said it was not just about the pay but about the classroom conditions.

"Some of those conditions need to be improved for the sake and well being of our staff," he said.

"The staff are not getting done what they need to get done. The compliance nature of the job has increased ... which is good because we need to be accountable for some things but we just keep on adding on and adding on."

Matt Simeon of the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Principals Association and principal of Pillans Point Primary school. Photo/File

NZEI Te Riu Roa president Lynda Stuart said members had sent a clear message that the offers did not address concerns about the growing teacher shortage, time to teach and support for children with additional learning needs.

"The Government keeps saying we have to be patient, and they can't fix everything at once, but the teacher shortage is at crisis point.

"If you think it's expensive trying to fix a crisis, just wait to see how hard it is to turn around a disaster."

NZEI national president, Lynda Stuart. Photo / File

At the NZEI Te Riu Roa annual conference next month representatives would consider feedback about potential collective action and would make a recommendation for plans for term 4.

Ministry of Education head Iona Holsted said the Ministry was disappointed NZEI rejected their advised offers to settle collective agreements.

"It is also disappointing because, outside the bargaining process, the Ministry is actively addressing the concerns teachers are raising about their working conditions."