Mark and Keep begins

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Media Release

18 March 2002
Mark and Keep begins

The first stage of the PPTA’s new industrial action plan begins today with teachers refusing to pass NCEA marks on to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

‘Mark and Keep’ means that while students will get their work marked and returned to them, those marks won’t be passed on to NZQA.

PPTA president Jen McCutcheon said this type of industrial action was designed to show the Government just how much extra work teachers have had to carry out with the implementation of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement, but have minimal effect on students.

“Our members are coming under increasing workload pressures and this is one way of alleviating them. It may be that the marks are passed on at a later date but that can only happen when we have a satisfactory collective agreement settled,” Mrs McCutcheon said.

Industrial action is set to escalate next term.

“From the first week of next term our members refuse to attend meetings outside the hours of 8am and 5pm. Teachers will also refuse to comply with directives from NZQA over the NCEA. Teachers will also strike twice during the term. The extra-curricular ban will begin in term three as will a full NCEA ban,” Mrs McCutcheon said.

“The latest Education Gazette shows that there were 143 secondary teacher vacancies at the beginning of this month, 27 more than at the same time last year and 59 more than in 2000. We don’t need to keep reminding people that the situation is getting worse, the figures speak for themselves.”

“All teachers want is recognition of the work they are doing through a decent collective agreement that will enhance their pay and working conditions. Surely it’s not too much to ask for,” Mrs McCutcheon said.

Ends

For further comment, contact Jen McCutcheon on (04) 913 4227 (work)

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