“This is desperate and the Government has to take the bold steps to make teaching a sustainable career choice again.
“We simply cannot wait. Teachers’ heavy workload and low pay for their qualifications and responsibilities has seen many leave the profession,” she said.
Finding relievers has been very difficult, with many having already taken up permanent teaching positions.
Just 10 percent of principals said it had been easy to find suitable relieving staff this winter.
Principal of Wainui Beach School Nolian Andrew said she was desperate for relievers and took out a newspaper advertisement and got no response.
Chairman of the Primary Principals Association in Gisborne, Paul Sadler, said getting relievers was really tough and they often had to resort to splitting classes and getting senior leaders to go into the classroom.
It was difficult to employ teachers mid-year.
“We didn’t get any suitable applicants but we managed to fill the positions by emailing other principals.
“It will be interesting going into next year.”
Te Wharau School principal Steve Berezowski says, “we have had to reduce the amount of professional development done by teachers, as we can’t get enough relievers”.
Nick Chapman, principal at Nuhaka School, said it was very difficult for semi-remote schools such as Nuhaka. They were finding it difficult to find staff.
Mr Chapman said he had not been able to find a regular, daily reliever all year.
So he is the relieving teacher for reading recovery release. He is teaching one class every afternoon, instead of being available across the school.
Ms Stuart said shifting children or splitting classes was a desperate last resort, usually taken after a principal and other senior leaders had put their usual duties on hold to teach for the day.
“I’ve never heard of this happening so frequently before.”
Children are ultimately missing out, as they are shunted into split and merged classes — happening almost daily in most schools. Some principals and senior management are back in front of classes and teachers are coming to school instead of taking sick leave.
‘Challenging times’ for schoolsDiane McCallum, principal of Tiaho Primary School in Wairoa said they were advertising a position for the third time to start in term four — and there were no applications to date.
“We also struggle with day-to-day relievers.
“We have had to double up classes and my deputy principal and I have filled in when we can.
“We have some experienced teacher aides, who have been granted ‘limited authority to teach’ certification to help run classrooms when we have no other options.
“We have taken teachers’ release time when stuck and paid it back later.
“Teachers feel guilty when they or their children are unwell and they cannot come to school.
“Some come when unwell just to support the school and tamariki.
“These are certainly challenging times.”
