Performance Pay: Be Careful Says Maxim Institute

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media release

Wednesday 16 MAY 2012


There Are Many Models of Performance Pay-Be Careful Says Maxim Institute

The Government’s announcement that it will develop a teacher appraisal system is encouraging. However, Education Minister Hekia Parata’s suggestion that this may include performance pay must be carefully considered says Maxim Institute Senior Researcher Steve Thomas.

“There are many different ways of implementing performance pay. The Government needs to thoroughly investigate the merits of different models before it goes ahead with any changes.

“If the Government introduced performance pay it ought to, for instance, be careful to implement models which are appropriate to New Zealand, and perhaps give schools a choice of model and the flexibility to use the model which they want.”

Thomas says the issue of how teachers are appraised and rewarded should not be reduced to just salaries.

“Otherwise, what could be a fantastic opportunity to see good teachers encouraged and great teaching rewarded might be lost.”

Thomas also says the proposal to increase some class sizes needs to be implemented carefully.

“Research indicates it is likely that in the first two years of a child’s education smaller class sizes could be effective at improving educational outcomes.

“However, these effects can shrink as the child makes their way through the education system.”

“This means there is a case for small class sizes in the early years of schooling, but the case is not very strong in the later school years.”

ENDS

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