95bFM Secondary students in Pōneke standing behind teachers
20 June, 2023.
Interview by Caeden Tipler, adapted by Athena Li-Watts
A group of students in Pōneke are showing up to support their teachers on strike. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Students in Pōneke, Wellington, will be rallying outside Parliament on Wednesday to support teachers' calls for better pay and working conditions.
Failed negotiations between unions and the Ministry of Education have led teachers' to continue their strike action for months, with students missing multiple days of school.
Secondary student Kay from We Back Our Kaiako told 95bFM’s The Wire that they organised the protest to show solidarity with their teachers.
“Seeing our kaiako (teachers) come into class when they're burnt out, making ends meet, and don't have time to do the things they care about — it's just heartbreaking as a student.”
Kay said teachers deserve fair and equitable compensation that matches their qualifications, experience, and the range of work they perform.
Teachers are expected to show up to sports, performing arts, and other events without compensation, and Māori kaiako often perform cultural roles and advise on cultural competency on top of their classroom tasks.
According to Kay, the government's lack of support for teachers is negatively affecting students, as they don’t have the ability to provide individual attention and deliver quality instruction.
Kay supports teachers' calls for extended classroom release time, so they have more time to plan lessons, mark work, and support students with specific learning needs.
Kay believes the current conditions are deterring people from pursuing teaching as a career, and causing current teachers to leave the industry.
“There are currently around 800 people in the country studying education, and there are about 1000 vacant teacher positions at the moment, which means class sizes are increasing to meet that shortage.”
Many of Aotearoa's universities are also facing significant staffing and subject cuts due to a lack of funding, which Kay said is limiting aspiring teachers of arts subjects.
“Why would someone go into teaching if they can't study what they want to at University?”
Teachers have received criticism for striking from some parents, who say they are concerned about their children missing crucial education.
But Kay said a few days off school now means there won’t be prolonged periods off school in the future due to teacher shortages.
For students and parents needing an incentive to support teachers, Kay reiterated the cannon effect on students.
“Turn up to secure your education.”
The protest on Wednesday 21 July is scheduled to start at 12:30pm and end at 2:00pm.
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