NZEI Te Riu Roa members delivered the Back Our Future | Kimi Haeata petition, signed by around 40,000 people, to the Minister of Education’s electorate office in Browns Bay this morning.
The delivery of the signatures comes as the education sector waits for the Government’s upcoming Budget announcement to see if it addresses critical staffing and funding pressures.
The Kimi Haeata petition calls for urgent investment in the education workforce, specifically targeting four key areas:
• A teacher aide in every classroom
• Fair pay and job security for all educators
• Upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in education
• Defending quality early childhood education
The handover follows new research showing that 83 per cent of parents want a teacher aide in every classroom. Despite this high level of public support, teacher aides currently face job insecurity and low wages, forcing many of them into second jobs just to survive.
“Teacher aides are the backbone of inclusive classrooms, yet many of us are struggling to stay in the profession due to precarious contracts and low pay,” said Ally Kingi, a teacher aide and NZEI Te Riu Roa national member leader.
“We are asking the Government to value our work fairly so we can focus on what matters most – supporting the learning and wellbeing of our tamariki.”