26 Jan 2026

PPTA worried about hundreds of teacher vacancies

From Checkpoint, 4:25 pm on 26 January 2026

As students head back to school this week, the Post-Primary Teachers Association is worried about hundreds of staff vacancies at schools around the country. According to the Ministry of Education, there are over 400 vacancies for school staff, including early childhood centres, primary, intermediate, and secondary schools. The PPTA says it means some high school teachers are being made to teach subjects they're not qualified in. PPTA president Chris Abercrombie spoke to Lisa Owen.