Combatting NZ teacher shortages New graduates fast option to become a teacher in low decile NZ schools

24 January 2012

A controversial new teaching programme is seeking to '"fast-track" new graduates into classrooms in as little as six weeks.

Teach First New Zealand and the University of Auckland plan to recruit 20 people with degrees who they will place straight into the classroom at low decile schools to learn on the job.

Teach First's chief executive Shaun Sutton told TV Ones Breakfast they are looking particularly for languages, engineering or science graduates.

The Teach First NZ aim is to respond to education inequality in New Zealand.

It's currently difficult to attract beginning teachers to teach in low decile secondary schools.

Sutton said he went through a similar programme in the UK.

Top graduates apply for the programme in the UK because you get a salary from the start and it is a challenging environment to learn in.

A number of Kiwi secondary schools are lining up to be involved in the programme already.

The university's dean of education Graeme Aitken told TV Ones Breakfast the programme will combat teacher shortages in low decile schools.

It is a way of getting top quality graduates into schools in six weeks without them having to spend another year at university.

The traditional programme will continue to run but they are looking to additionally offer students who want to work in low decile schools this new option.

It is a two year programme overall with a rigorous selection process at the beginning.

It has a six week residential intensive at the start - living and breathing teaching 8-10 hours a day five days a week for six weeks, the best part of 250 hours of living and breathing teaching, before going into schools, then 25 visits from the university over the next two years and ongoing mentoring and ongoing support.

It is about connecting education with experience rather than just telling students what to expect.

Overseas evidence is very powerfully suggesting that the programme will be a success.

Source: One News