Teachers to hold stop-work meeting

Whetu Cormick.
Whetu Cormick.
A looming stop-work meeting for teachers, aimed at discussing proposed changes to the Education Act, is expected to cause disruption across Otago schools early next month.

Paid NZEI and PPTA union meetings have been called for September 6 at the Dunedin Town Hall.

New Zealand Principals' Federation vice-president and Bathgate Park School principal Whetu Cormick expected the majority of teachers in Dunedin would be attending the meeting, and pupils from most schools would be sent home for the afternoon.

He believed it would be the first time since 2013 that schools across the country would hold stop-work union meetings.

The main topic to be discussed is the Ministry of Education's global funding proposal.

The ministry's consultation documents propose a new funding system with the potential to increase flexibility in schools' use of funding while simplifying funding arrangements.

The change would set a ''global budget'' for each school, delivered as cash instalments for school expenses, and a credit system for salaries.

Many in the sector have criticised the proposal, saying it could mean schools would have an incentive to hire fewer teachers so they had more money to spend elsewhere.

They believed schools would be put in a position of making decisions about how to pay for the entire running of the school, and there would be significant pressure on them to reduce their staffing costs, including teacher aides and teachers.

Another topic of discussion at the meeting could be the ministry's online schools proposal.

New Zealand Principals' Federation president Iain Taylor said he was ''gobsmaked'' yesterday to find yet another choice of school - online schools - turn up in the Education Act update announcement.

''Online schools were never mentioned in any of the documents prior to the call for submissions on the update, but suddenly, here they are.

''It's ridiculous.''

He said education literature was bulging with studies showing the importance of social engagement and building relationships with teachers and peers, as precursors to successful learning - especially for struggling learners.

''Employers are telling us kids need to be team builders, engaging and have a developed sense of civic and community service, and be creative and critical thinkers.

''How will they learn these skills shut away at the kitchen table with a tablet?''

Mr Taylor said there had been no call from parents to have an online school option.

''I can't see parents being overjoyed at the idea of giving up their job to stay home and supervise their kids at Online School,'' he said.

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