Newly qualified teacher Ralph Miller has begun his search
for teaching jobs in a market recently flooded with
experienced teachers from Christchurch. Photo by Gerard
O'Brien.
Tough times may await University of Otago College of
Education graduates as teachers surplus to requirements in
Christchurch schools flood the job market.
Nearly 170 full-time teacher positions will be axed in
Christchurch this week as a result of the earthquakes which
have forced many pupils to move to other cities around the
country.
This represents 4.5% of the city's 3690 education workforce.
The situation has left College of Education student Ralph
Miller with the odds stacked against his finding work as a
teacher.
"There's much more qualified competition for jobs out there
now."
Mr Miller (27) said he had completed his graduate diploma in
teaching (primary) and would graduate in May next year.
Although he was still to register as a teacher, he was
already looking for teaching jobs in Otago.
Of the 42 students who had qualified to teach next year, only
nine had jobs. Most were in Auckland, he said.
"It's a daunting situation. It's going to be a long process."
Mr Miller said he would put himself on the Dunedin schools'
list of relief teachers, and pick up as much work as he could
until he found a full-time job.
Otago and Southland Principals' Association chairman Philip
Craigie said teaching jobs in Dunedin were already "stifled".
He believed many of the Christchurch teachers, and teaching
graduates around the country, were unlikely to find jobs next
year, and would have to find jobs in other professions.
"The Christchurch impact is looking quite grim really."
University of Otago College of Education Dean Prof Lisa Smith
was more optimistic.
"Any impact [of the Canterbury redundancies] would partly
depend on how many redundant teachers choose to take up the
Government's extra provisions, which include joining the new
relief teaching pool, secondment to other education-focused
organisations or retraining."
Prof Smith noted Otago teaching graduates traditionally found
positions at schools throughout the country. There were no
plans to cut the College of Education intake, she said.
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