Michael Bain, principal of Te Mata Primary School, said there was worry that schools would struggle to fill principal roles after the latest teacher pay increase. Photo / File
Michael Bain, principal of Te Mata Primary School, said there was worry that schools would struggle to fill principal roles after the latest teacher pay increase. Photo / File
The principal of a rural Hawke's Bay school says the Government's latest rejected pay offer is a hammer blow for schools like hers.
Primary school teachers have accepted a $1.5 billion pay offer - but principals have rejected it, as it would pay some teachers more than their principals.
Thevote by just over 2000 primary school principals will force the Government back to the negotiating table less than two weeks after it thought it had finally resolved a bitter dispute that's seen primary teachers strike three times in the past year.
Sherwood School principal and senior classroom teacher Christine Morrison said the latest offer would hinder people from applying for principal roles where they were needed most.
"We're not in this for the money, we've all said that pay isn't the most important issue.
"But the thing is if someone knows they can go and work at an urban school and take on a management role and be paid as equally as much or more than a principal, that could certainly be a deciding factor."
Te Mata Primary School principal Michael Bain said although he was "exceptionally gratified" for the teachers, he felt that group principals' voices had not been heard.
"The way forward for us is quite difficult because it is about conditions and recognising service, because what we've effectively done now is elevated teacher pay roles.
Principal and senior teacher Christine Morrison believed the latest pay increase for teachers would put people off applying for principal roles. Photo / Supplied.
"Rural school principalship is not seen as a desirable pathway anymore. Rural principals are often on duty 24/7 and working in a small rural community they're often living in it."
Raureka School principal Greg Riceman is presenting a letter to Ministry of Education director Roy Sye on Tuesday morning saying principals will in protest stop aspects of ministry work that won't have an effect on children's education.
Havelock North Primary School principal Nick Reed said the latest increase had seen teachers "reasonably positive" and that the increase was a step in the right direction.
"There is still a lot of work to be done around conditions and support for teachers in order to once again make the profession a viable option for school leavers.
"Education is at a crisis point. Filling these positions over the next few years is going to be a challenge," he said.
The primary teachers' deal will lift the top of their basic scale, for teachers with no extra responsibilities, by 18.5 per cent from $75,949 now to $90,000 by July 2021.
Beginning teachers with a degree plus a teaching qualification will get a 12.8 per cent rise from $49,588 to $55,948.
Principal of Tikokino School Hamish Natusch said the principal role could be more challenging in rural schools than urban ones.
"It is disappointing that a teacher in a big school with bigger management units can be on more than a rural teaching principal when their job description is a lot narrower than a teaching principal.
"Rural schools are a fantastic place to teach and I hope this doesn't put people off going into a rural principal position.
"They can be the most enjoyable years of your teaching career."
