ACTION: Kerri Friar, resource teacher of literacy from Gate Pa School, got involved in NZEI's Day of Action at Devonport Rd yesterday.PHOTO/SUPPLIED
ACTION: Kerri Friar, resource teacher of literacy from Gate Pa School, got involved in NZEI's Day of Action at Devonport Rd yesterday.PHOTO/SUPPLIED
A group of teaching staff braved bad weather to raise awareness about what they called the "inadequacies" on the Government's plan to raise teacher salaries and create new leadership and management roles.
NZ Education Institute (NZEI) held a Day of Action in centres around the country from 7.30am to 8amyesterday in front of local MP offices.
About 25 members of the Tauranga branch gathered in front of the Devonport Rd office of Tauranga MP Simon Bridges holding signs and talking to members of the public about the Government's Investing in Educational Success (IES) policy, part of which involves paying certain teachers and principals a bigger salary to take on new management and leadership roles.
Jan Tinetti, principal of Merivale School, said the Day of Action was held in about the only half hour in the day when it did not rain.
"We had about 25 people there. The numbers were probably down because people thought it was going to be wet.
"We had teachers representing a number of schools in Tauranga and we had signs that said 'stand up for a better plan'."
Ms Tinetti said the Day of Action aimed to raise awareness about the inadequacies around the Government's IES policy and raise awareness about NZEI's alternative plan the union felt would be better for education.
She said about 50 members of the public stopped to talk to the teachers about what they were doing.
NZEI immediate past president Ian Leckie, principal of Tahatai Coast School, said there had been a strong turnout across the country, which showed how important it was for politicians to listen to the voice of the primary and intermediate teaching profession.
Mr Leckie said the policy was out of step with what the profession and others in the community felt would be better ways to spend the money. Mr Bridges said he was unable to be at the office during the Day of Action as he was in Taranaki with the prime minister, but said he asked his staff to meet with the group.
"National is disappointed that NZEI has come out in relation to our policy to really boost teaching in schools just before the election. It's a highly political move.
"If we get returned as Government, we're committed to hearing them and making sure our policy is the best possible one it can be."
