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A teacher of 23 years says it's unfair those who trained prior to the 2000s are now unable to reach the highest pay level unless they undergo extra training, and it's leading to those with fewer years' experience being able to earn more than their older colleagues.
Teachers with a 3-year Bachelor of Teaching enter at Step 1 and can reach step 10 of the base salary scale. Those with a 4-year Bachelor of Teaching degree or a specialist subject degree such as maths or literature plus a teaching qualification can reach step 11.
The standard qualification for primary teaching pre-2000s was a three year teaching qualification, generally done through teachers colleges. However this has shifted to university-based qualifications and over time, and more people now do four year qualifications, with a three year specialist degree and one year teaching qualification very common.
Jacinta Kelleher is a teacher and Assistant Principal at Titahi Bay School in Porirua. She has started a petition asking the Ministry of Education to rectify the discrepancy.
