Teaching opportunities

There are opportunities currently for experienced, enthusiastic, well-qualified teachers in all sectors of our education system and we'd love to have you back.  We’ve summarised for you the current main opportunities by sector.

Early childhood teachers wanted!

Ever since the introduction of the Early Childhood Strategy in 2002, demand for qualified early childhood teachers has risen in New Zealand. Part of the Strategy requires all teachers in teacher-led early childhood services to be qualified and registered or to be studying towards registration by 2012.

Opportunities will continue to grow for qualified teachers in early childhood education as initiatives to increase participation levels bring results.

In addition, 2007 saw the highest number of births recorded in New Zealand since 1972 which will lead to an increased demand for early childhood teachers over the next few years.

Demand for primary teachers!

At the point you left teaching or New Zealand there may have been an oversupply of primary teachers and few teaching positions available.  Over the last few years, this situation has reversed with the announcement by Government of 3000 plus new primary positions.  Some of these new positions have arisen from:

• the 1626 extra primary teacher positions approved through the staffing improvements process
• the introduction of classroom release time requiring an additional 740 teachers
• the lowering of the staff to pupil ratio for new entrants to 1:18 requiring an extra 702 teachers from term 2, 2008
• further lowering of the staff to pupil ratio for new entrants to 1:15 requiring an extra 762 from term 1, 2009.
  

These measures have already led or will lead to additional positions in a significant number of primary schools.  Auckland will continue to have teacher supply pressures as a result of these policies and the continued growth in their primary school rolls.

In addition, 2007 saw the highest number of births recorded in New Zealand since 1972, which will lead to an increased demand for teachers by 2012. Ministry of Education officials now expect to see more pupils in classrooms during the next 15 years than previously predicted.

A good proportion of primary teachers are nearing retirement age and this is also expected to affect primary teacher supply in future years.

Secondary teachers in demand!

New Zealand secondary schools continue to experience increasing rolls as a result of a population boom in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The number of secondary school students is expected to peak around 2008. This will also coincide with an increase in teacher retirements.

Secondary teachers will continue to be sought after. Teachers of maths, science, technology, te reo Māori, and Māori and Pasifika teachers are in great demand now and will be for some years as the roll growth moves through the secondary sector.

There is an ongoing demand for well-qualified, experienced and enthusiastic teachers in all subjects.

Auckland!

As New Zealand’s largest city where early childhood services and school rolls continue to increase, there is an ongoing need for more teachers in all sectors - early childhood, primary and secondary.

TeachNZ has also established the Auckland Early Childhood Teachers Relief Pool to help ease the shortage of qualified and registered ECE teachers in the Auckland region.  The specific purpose of the pool is to support centres during periods when staff are studying or on practicum.