Zizi Sparks: Teachers are still doing it tough - something needs to change

Teachers are stressed and lonely in the profession, they say. Photo / Getty Images

OPINION

The latest Covid-19 lockdown has once again shown us the value of teachers.

I don't have children myself, but I am close friends with a teacher. She spent the lockdown planning online lessons and worrying about students and their home situations every day.

Teachers truly care about their students and put in extra time year round.

During lockdown teachers who are also parents had to balance work and children - as many working parents did in lockdown.

It is no wonder so many have left the profession.

As we reported this week 1709 teachers and principals left the profession in the Bay of Plenty Waiariki area in the past five years and had not returned as of mid-July.

The number of leavers each year rose steadily from 276 in 2016 to 417 last year. So far this year, to July 23, 133 had left and not taken up another position.

The numbers did not reflect teachers who had ceased employment indefinitely.

Principals we spoke to said the profession could be lonely and stressful and involve dealing with "traumatic stuff" daily.

A lot of people say teachers have it easy. They get a two-week break every term and a long summer break. But the reality is teachers are squeezing in a year of work into a shorter time period. Many talk of working weekends and long nights to prepare for lessons and put in extra time for extracurricular activities.

One principal we spoke to believed additional funding to address learning and behavioural needs would help retain teachers and principals.

A union representative said members were struggling with low staffing and high workloads.

I imagine it is a vicious cycle. Workloads and stress are high so people leave, meaning staff levels are low and workloads and stress increase, so more people leave.

As long as I've been working with NZME, teachers unions have been asking for more.

In August 2018 they went on strike for better pay and conditions. At that time, the primary teachers union, the NZ Educational Institute, was striking for only the fourth time in its 135-year history.

In May 2019, members of the same union went on strike again.

The Post Primary Teachers' Association joined them, marking secondary teachers' first strike since 2010 and the first national joint action ever by unions representing primary, intermediate, secondary and area schools.

Two years on, I don't know if much has changed based on the figures about people leaving positions.

They are still calling for more funding to address learning and behavioural needs. I believe they still need more for people to help with students who need more.

Something needs to change. Our educators are too valuable.