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HowtoBecomeaSchoolTeacherinNewZealand

Primary school teachers teach children between the ages of 5 and 13 at primary or intermediate schools.

Secondary school teachers teach one or more curriculum subject areas to students of about 12 to 18

years of age at secondary schools.

■ How to become a school teacherPrimary school teachers teach children between the ages of 5 and 13 at primary or intermediate schools.

Secondary school teachers teach one or more curriculum subject areas to students of about 12 to 18 years of age at secondary schools.

Qualifications needed

Primary teachers require one of these:

• a three-year Bachelor of Education (Teaching)

• a bachelor’s degree and a one-year Graduate Diploma of Teaching.

Secondary school teachers require either:

• a specialist subject degree followed by a one-year Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary)

• a combined specialist subject degree and secondary teaching qualification.

Secondary teachers also need to train to teach in at least two curriculum areas.

Cost of study

Bachelor of Teaching Graduate Diploma of Teaching

$18,100 over 3 years $7,000 – 8,700 over one year

Average costs in 2014 for a domestic student. Costs vary between institutions. Further costs include materials, textbooks, and accommodation.

Rents vary from place to place. Estimated market rents by re-gion, city and suburb are available on the MBIE Tenancy Services website.

The StudyLink website provides general budget advice for students, and the Sorted website provides help with detailed budget planning.

→ Tenancy Services: www.tenancy.govt.nz

→ StudyLink: www.studylink.govt.nz

→ Sorted: www.sorted.org.nz/calculators/money-planner

Where to study

There are a number of teacher-training providers throughout New Zealand. Many provide distance learning. TeachNZ publishes a summary of providers.

→ TeachNZ: www.teachnz.govt.nz/teaching-in-new-zealand/getting-qualified

Registration

Newly qualified teachers must become provisionally registered with the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. They gain full registration after at least two years’ satisfactory work as a teacher. Once fully registered, teachers are issued with a practis-ing certificate, renewable every three years.

Completed qualifications

The number of students completing teaching qualifications (primary and secondary) has fallen steadily since 2011.

Source: Ministry of Education

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2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Bachelor's Degree Graduate certificates and diplomas

SCHOOL TEACHERSJOB PROSPECTS

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JOB PROSPECTS In recent years, entry to this profession has become very competitive with supply outstripping demand. That situation is unlikely to change significantly over the next five years. The chances of getting work as a primary teacher will remain limited, but better for those who choose to teach in certain types of schools for example in kura kaupapa Maori or in isolated rural schools. The chances of getting a job as a secondary school teacher are also limited, but better for those who teach a shortage subject, work in isolated rural schools or low socio-economic locations. As the population continues to grow, the long-term demand for teachers is expected to grow slowly but steadily.

At a glance

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY SERVICES

■ Income and employment prospectsBase salaries

Starting Maximum

Primary$47,626with bachelor’s teaching degree

$70,481after seven years’ service

Secondary

$49,282Registered teacher with specialist/subject Level 7 qualification

$74,460after seven years’ service

The table outlines the 2015 base salary rates; these rates will increase in 2016.

Teachers may take on management or specialist roles, such as head of department, curriculum specialist, or leading teach-ers of a particular year-group. These roles are paid additional remuneration - often through one or more “units” (these are allowances worth $4,000 per year).

Secondary school teachers who teach in schools that are hard to staff may earn an extra $3,500 in their third, fourth and fifth years under the government’s voluntary bonding Scheme1.

Employment and skill shortages

Teachers’ employment

Current Projected growth*

2013 2014 2014–19 2019–24

88,65790,623up 2.2%

Up 1.3% per year

Up 1.3% per year

*Forecast includes early childhood teachers

Teacher employment is expected to increase steadily by 1.3% for the next ten years.

Although there is a steady supply of teachers overall, there are shortages in Māori language education and some areas of special education. There are also shortages in some other subject areas, and in some rural and low socio-economic locations.

Demand for specialist secondary teachers fluctuates with changes in student demand. However, all secondary schools employ a number of teachers in core subjects like English, maths and science.

Secondary teachers improve their job prospects if they teach a core subject along with one or two specialist topics.

1 Ministry of Education, www.teachnz.govt.nz/teacher-awards/voluntary-bonding-scheme

Where to find job vacancies

Most public teaching vacancies are advertised through the Education Gazette. Private teaching vacancies are advertised through public media such as the Trade Me Jobs and Seek websites.

→ Education Gazette: www.edgazette.govt.nz

→ Trade Me Jobs: www.trademe.co.nz/jobs

→ Seek: www.seek.co.nz

Career path

School teachers may progress up to senior and management roles, for example:

• school/college principal

• dean

• syndicate leader or head of department.

Other teaching roles include:

• early childhood teacher

• kaiwhakaako Māori (Māori language teacher).

Careers that can be followed outside the school system include:

• teaching trainee teachers in tertiary institutions

• doing research, policy or advisory work in the education sector

• working in training and education roles in business.

■ Other informationLinks

More information on teachers is available on the Careers New Zealand website.

→ Careers New Zealand: www.careers.govt.nz

More detail on teacher pay and qualifications is available from the Ministry of Education.

→ Ministry of Education, teacher salary and allowances: www.education.govt.nz/school/working-in-a-school/teachers

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2009 2014 2019 2024

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY SERVICES

SCHOOL TEACHERS

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