Appointing no current classroom teachers to a newly formed Teaching Standards Expert Advisory Group (EAG) is a serious gap, NZEI Te Riu Roa says.
“The voice of teachers at the chalkface has been a critical factor in developing teaching standards that are relevant, professionally sound, and owned by teachers themselves,” NZEI Te Riu Roa President Ripeka Lessels said.
“The Education Minister has just removed democratically elected teachers from their own independent professional body and moved the teaching standards to the Ministry of Education. While the members of the advisory group appointed by the Ministry bring undoubted expertise, it’s very disappointing that the Ministry has appointed not a single current classroom teacher from schooling or Early Childhood Education.”
Mrs Lessels said the membership of the expert group appeared to reflect a shift towards private employer and commercial provider interests over the voice of tens of thousands of teachers working in public education.
Following the passage of the Education System Reform Bill, standard-setting responsibilities shifted from the Teaching Council to the Ministry of Education.
In an email to NZEI Te Riu Roa, the Ministry confirmed it finalised the EAG membership without sector input, saying it had “invited a small group of independent experts.” The Ministry also noted that although teachers must meet the teaching standards to retain their employment, the group will have no formal relationship with NZEI Te Riu Roa or the wider sector, and will directly advise the Secretary for Education.