Pay parity victory for Kindergarten teachers
Kindergarten teachers have won continued pay parity with primary teachers through the successful negotiation of their collective employment agreement. NZEI negotiating team leader and Tauranga Kindergarten Association senior teacher Marion Dekker says the team was very pleased to see the ongoing commitment to pay parity and the professional status of ECE teachers. "It was the number one issue for us going into these negotiations," she said. The settlement will go out to members for ratification shortly.
Support staff negotiation
Bargaining success for kindergarten teachers has not been mirrored in support staff negotiations. NZEI has been extremely disappointed with the government's offer to support staff and very little progress has been made. Two key goals, a reasonable pay increase and a plan for the future to help schools employ support staff, need to be addressed.
Support Staff Day on June 10 is an opportunity to show how valued support staff really are. For example, MOTAT in Auckland has invited support staff to a free wine and chocolate celebration at 3pm. RSVP to bookings@motat.org.nz. Other events can be viewed on www.fairdeal.org.nz.
National Standards – six weeks to have your say!
The Ministry of Education's consultation meetings have now started with only a dozen teacher and parent meetings planned nationally. It is a very tight timeframe and NZEI urges all teachers and parents to get out and have their say. You can
email the Ministry and request a representative to consult in your area. NZEI encourages you to do this. If you ask for Ministry representation and don’t get one,
please let NZEI know.
Five proposals to change our union
Focus groups are to discuss the five draft proposals for change to NZEI’s structure in the next step of NZEI’s organisational review. The National Executive will refine the proposals based on the focus group feedback and the final proposal will go out to the full membership for debate in the run up to Annual Meeting in September. Please contact your district council if you wish to attend these focus groups:
* 4.30 to 6.30pm May 26th, Hamilton Field Office
* 4.30 to 6.30pm May 28th, Napier / Hastings Field Office
* 4.30 to 6.30pm June 2nd, Upstart House, Dunedin
* 4.30 to 6.30pm June 3rd, NZEI Southern Regional Office, Christchurch
* 4 to 6pm June 5th, NZEI Central Regional Office, Wellington
Support for beginning teachers
NZEI seminars focussing on issues that are relevant to people early in their teaching career are being held across the country between 11 and 30 June. These seminars focus on the rights and responsibilities of early career teachers including collective agreement entitlements, managing responsibilities and difficult situations, and NZEI campaign activity. These seminars are supported by employment related education leave (EREL).
Rural and Teaching Principals conference
Rural and teaching principals meet in Rotorua this week for their annual conference. This year, there will be workshops on issues of concern for principals and debate on national standards, with speakers including Education Minister Anne Tolley and NZEI President Frances Nelson.
ECE Symposium
NZEI is hosting a symposium to bring together the views of employers and teachers from the public and private sector to address the teacher shortage issue in early childhood education. NZEI National Executive member and kindergarten teacher Hayley Whitaker says it will be an historic opportunity to engage with everyone in the sector on a problem that affects them all. Information on the outcomes of the symposium will be available later in June.
Ready to implement the Curriculum?
ERO has released the first of two aggregated reports that will give the Ministry of Education information on the progress that schools are making towards the full implementation of the curriculum.
Schools reviewed in terms 3-4 last year are progressing well in their preparation. Most schools are where they could realistically be expected to be at this stage and have begun the process of reviewing their curriculum. The report identifies four factors common to the good progress made by schools whose preparations are well advanced. What are the strengths of your school's progress towards implementation of the NVC? What are the concerns? Send your thoughts to sandra.aikin@nzei.org.nz
The connected curriculum
NZEI Te Riu Roa has received Ministry of Education funding and support to produce a comprehensive DVD resource to clarify the intent, spirit and content of the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) and to assist principals with its implementation. The resource will be available in Term 3.
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