Articles for author: PPTA

PPTA

Secondary school principals ratify new collective agreement offer

Along with a salary increase of $4000 from 1 December 2022 and a three percent increase from 1 December 2023, the new agreement focuses on improving principals’ wellbeing with a $6000 allowance for professional coaching and support for principals in their leadership roles, says Kate Gainsford, Chair of the Secondary Principals’ Council. “I’m very pleased ...

PPTA

Introducing your representative in a range of professional fora

In her first year as a secondary teacher, Louise Ryan was shoulder tapped and encouraged to get actively involved in PPTA Te Wehengarua – and she hasn’t stopped. Louise is Head of Media Studies at Western Springs College Ngā Puna o Waiōrea. “I’m incredibly lucky to currently work at a school where the support of ...

PPTA

Pressing pause on RAS

The huge changes that lie ahead for secondary education have exciting potential and are absolutely necessary to improve education for kaiako and ākonga alike but we need to take a pause on some aspects to ensure we get the best possible outcomes long term, PPTA Te Wehengarua national executive member, Louise Ryan, told Annual Conference. ...

PPTA

End of academic streaming in sight

When Daniel Hāpuka’s son was in his last year of high school in 2015, he was told he was not a suitable candidate for NCEA Level 3 Maths and Science, despite having passed Levels 1 and 2. “My wife and I kept fighting for this young Māori lad who was ours and we ended up ...

PPTA

Latest Ministry offer still below cost of living increase

“We have told the Ministry since negotiations began almost a year ago that secondary teachers need a pay increase that matches the cost of living. Unfortunately, this offer is below that, and over the term of the agreement represents a reduction in real terms,” says Chris Abercrombie, PPTA Te Wehengarua acting president. “It’s clear more ...

PPTA

Lifting school attendance requires whole-of-community effort

Commenting on the Term 4 school attendance results, released this week by the Ministry of Education, Kate Gainsford says the results are concerning but not unexpected after three years of upheaval. “School attendance rates were dropping before COVID but the pandemic has exacerbated the situation, with coordination between these groups being tested, young people leaving ...