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Media Release

10 December 2003

Taskforce report out: will the Minister deliver?

The recommendations of the Ministerial Taskforce on Secondary Teacher Remuneration provide a sound basis on which future secondary education policy can be developed in a cooperative and constructive manner, PPTA president Phil Smith said today.

Mr Smith praised the work of the taskforce members who had spent the past nine months developing proposals for the future based on a shared understanding of the issues facing teachers and schools.

The Taskforce’s recommendations were designed to address recruitment and retention concerns and support and encourage secondary teachers to develop their professional practice to ensure the continued delivery of quality outcomes for all students.

However, Mr Smith said one of the Taskforce’s recommendations was that a settled industrial environment was a pre-requisite to implementing its longer-term recommendations on secondary teacher remuneration.

“Therefore, we are disappointed and surprised that the Ministry and Minister meddled with an earlier taskforce recommendation to create a viable career pathway for non-degree teachers to the extent that it is no longer a viable option for most of these teachers.

“We are also concerned that, in proposing legislation to give powers to the Secretary for Education to dock the pay of striking teachers, rather than school boards, the Minister is focusing on the past and not looking forward.

“Recent signals from the Minister do not give us confidence going into another industrial round next year.

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