ECE Voice
Early childhood teachers so an incredibly important job. But their pay is up to 52% behind kindergarten and primary with the same skills, qualifications and responsibilities. We believe the government needs to act now to fix the gap.
Initial Teacher Education 2040
Initial Teacher Education (ITE) plays a vital role in our education system, preparing future teachers with the knowledge and skills they need to begin teaching.
ITE also feeds the latest developments in pedagogy and teacher practice back into the sector, as a crucial interface between pedagogical theory, research, and classroom practice.
The asks
This work will evolve over time, but we are calling out the following as key outcomes we want to see by 2040 in Aotearoa.
- The establishment of a genuinely bicultural ITE system, grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- All teachers will be capable of working in level two immersion, meaning that 51–80% of the programme is delivered in Te Reo Māori.
- Greater support for ITE partner schools and centres, including funding, coaching and mentoring qualifications for mentor teachers, and building networks for associate teachers to enhance their development.
- Greater collaboration and support for first year teachers, including the removal of fixed-term contracts, additional resourcing for advice and guidance schemes.
- The creation of a compulsory post-graduate programme for beginning teachers to complete in their first two years.
Initial Teacher Education 2040 related articles
Learn more about ITE 2040
See what we're proposing and be a part of setting our new teachers up for success.
Learn more about ITE 2040
See what we're proposing and be a part of setting our new teachers up for success.
Related campaigns
Take a look at our current campaigns and find out how you can get involved.
Wāwāhi Tahā | Time 4 Tamariki
In 2019, we took key steps towards a fairer, better resourced primary education sector. But there is still work to be done.
Te Ake Rautangi
Kōhanga Reo kaimahi bring incredible skills and experience to an important kaupapa for tamariki Māori, but right now many kaimahi aren’t paid in a way that recognises their value and upholds their mana.
Pūaotanga Report 2021
The Pūaotanga report was an independent review of staffing in primary schools which paints a dire picture of our schools.
Public Sector Pay Initiative
In June 2022, NZEI Te Riu Roa, PPTA, PSA, NZNO, E Tū and other public sector unions agreed to ask members to discuss and vote on whether to go forward with a Council of Trade Unions (CTU) initiative to negotiate with the Government for a unified pay increase across the wider public service.
Mana Taurite | Fair's Fair
No matter who you are or what kind of work you do, you deserve to be paid fairly. Our pay equity claims are about addressing the historical undervaluing in both pay and status in roles that society has perceived to be ‘women’s work’.