November 21, 2022
Resource teachers of Māori become bargaining chip
NZEI Te Riu Roa says members are extremely disappointed at a Ministry of Education proposal to disestablish 53 resource teacher of Māori positions.
Teachers at union meetings this week will discuss the proposal that was presented by the ministry as part of offers to settle negotiations for both the area and primary school teachers’ collective agreements.
Kaareen Hotereni, a Bay of Plenty-based resource teacher, says teachers should not lose their job as part of a collective bargaining negotiation.
She says RTM teachers provide the support teachers needed to teach in a Māori medium.
Ripeka Lessels, the incoming vice-president of NZEI Te Riu Roa and tumuaki at Te Whata Tau o Pūtauaki in Kawerau, says the proposal asks teachers to vote their colleagues out of a job.
It also cuts staffing essential to the revitalisation of te reo at a point when more specialist teachers are needed, not less.