Source: Radio New Zealand
Teacher subject associations are being offered contracts worth more than $100,000 a year – but only if they agree to support the new school curriculum. RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Teacher subject associations held an unprecedented joint meeting this week after being offered contracts worth more than $100,000 a year – but only if they agree to support the new school curriculum.
Sources told RNZ some association members viewed the contracts as an attempt to bribe and gag them after months of criticism of the process for developing the new curriculum and of its content.
But the Education Ministry insisted that was not the case and associations would be free to comment publicly about the curriculum if they signed the contracts.
It said it offered contracts to 42 associations to act as “Networks of Expertise” and help teachers introduce the new curriculum for Years 11-13.
The contracts included a new clause requiring associations to “commit to supporting the direction and intent of the updated curriculum and qualification structure”.
“This is not a gag order. Associations can still share their views and raise concerns publicly,” the ministry told RNZ.
It said the new clause meant funded work should align with the goals of the refreshed curriculum, such as clarity, coherence, and equity.
“The change makes sure teachers receive resources that reflect the curriculum they are expected to teach,” it said.
RNZ understands some associations felt they had little choice but to accept the contracts because refusing would end funding used to employ teachers in advisory roles.
The members of some associations were also unhappy they were being asked to support curriculums they had not yet seen and had not even been written.
One said subject associations were being kept from the decision-making table and flicked a few crumbs.
Another said the process was “seriously rushed and flawed”, noting that associations had been asked to sign the contracts by Monday next week.
The Education Ministry said it was aware of discussion on social media and wanted “to be clear about the facts”.
Meanwhile, the Association for the Teaching of English (NZATE) this week published an open letter warning that teachers were not getting enough support to introduce the new Year 0-10 English curriculum next year.
It also warned that most of its members did not believe they could teach all the content required by the curriculum each year.
“The process for curriculum development and implementation remains deeply flawed and lacks the transparency and clarity needed for the empowerment of those entrusted with its execution,” the letter said.
“Kaiako have had no time to fully grasp the current curriculum documentation, which remains overly complex and extensive, outlining numerous Knowledge and Practices that are expected to be delivered over the course of the year.”
The letter said teachers did not have enough support to introduce the curriculum and schools needed funding to buy texts to go with it.
“NZATE was assured in numerous meetings with the Ministry of Education’s curriculum writing group that resources to support kaiako with implementation would be readily available. As of 10 November, these resources are still nonexistent. Furthermore, no extra funding has yet been provided for secondary schools to purchase the extra texts needed to support the new curriculum,” it said.
“The process has been appalling for over 18 months, and nothing has changed.”
The Education Ministry told RNZ more resources for the curriculum would be available next year, with a focus on Year 9 students.
“This includes planning resources and learning kits consisting of unit and lesson plans. A forward view of the learning area resources, curriculum supports, and professional learning opportunities is available on the ministry’s website,” it said.
It said it was offering two webinars before the end of the year and professional learning was already available for teachers of Y7-8 with “specific support for the English learning area for teachers of Years 9-10 rolling out in Term 1 next year” and more offered over time.
“We understand that schools will be at different stages of readiness. There is no expectation of perfection on day one. Change takes time, and we’ll continue working with the sector to make sure everyone has what they need to make a confident start,” the ministry said.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
