[manam]

Hello all...I presently live in Toronto and am craving a major change in life...turning 30 might have something to do with it :yes

Anyway...just wondering/hoping someone can help me here or perhaps direct me to someone/someplace that can. Thanks in advance for your responses!

I am interested in applying for immigration into NZ. I was looking at their shortage list and Montessori teacher is on there. Which is great BUT...

All I have is a high school diploma. I joined an Early Childhood Education course but got kicked out because I failed my courses in the first year...I was young, stupid and got caught up with the "fun" aspect of school...drinking, skipping classes etc etc :uhoh

Soon after, I started working full time...and have been for the last 8 years. Early this year, I decided to take a Montessori course and I finish in December. I was thinking of looking into immigration to NZ after that.

Based on what you may know of the process already, can I get in? I have work experience but not in a Montessori environment or anything related to children...unless you count working with sales guys as children :laugh

To add to that, Montessori teachers are in short supply.

Will I be able to teach in a Montessori school with JUST my certificate or do I need to have an ECE diploma? I am planning on working at a Montessori school later this year to gain my practical hours needed to graduate but just wondering...is it worth it for me to spend all this time and money on applying only to get rejeceted?

I have read the sites on immigration for NZ but obviously, none of them address my issues specifically. Is there anyone here that has entered NZ with just a high school diploma but work experience? :roll

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...any light you can shed on this will be greatly appreciated.

Good luck to everyone!!!!

[holland]

Hello, I don't know lots about it, but I would have thought that if you are claiming points for your quals and experience, your experience would have to be directly in that job...I may be wrong, Im sure some of the others will have some more specific useful advice. I work in the early years field and have a degree in it, but I didnt have enough post qualification experience to get in on my qualifications alone. Good luck with it xx

[speckythecky]

in order to use quals and experience for ssl they must both be in the same field.
There are other ways of getting in though. If you go over on a holiday visa and get job, this, along with experience and age should be enough to get the points you require for eoi

[tigerlily]

What about a working holiday visa? Anyone know the age limits for that?

[manam]

Thanks all for responding. Guess you just confirmed my fears.

Well, if it's a matter of a working holiday visa then I might as well start with the UK. I have always wanted to live there but since immigration to the UK was next to impossible, thought I would give NZ a shot...seems it's the same thing!

[tigerlily]

Have you considered doing a degree in either of those countries? Don't give up your dream! I'm sure there is a way somehow.

[manam]

Have you considered doing a degree in either of those countries? Don't give up your dream! I'm sure there is a way somehow.


that would mean me going over there as a student and paying international fees which I obviously can't afford to do!

What I am thinking of doing is going over to the UK on a working holiday visa, working at a Montessori school, gain some experience and then perhaps with 2 years experience there, try to get into NZ again. My fear is, by then...Montessori teachers won't be in demand and I'll be screwed over :(

The other option then is to go to NZ on a WH visa and then hope that I can apply for a work permit which will eventually lead to resident status.

DAMN...who knew it would be so hard.

[zardell]

Hi Manam.

First of all, let me say that our position was different to yours in the respect that we were granted our PR through the Skilled Migrant Category(a different skill to yours) whilst still in the UK, but had we have known, we would have probably have done things differently. We would have come over here, got the job, got the work visa and applied for PR from within NZ.

There are many jobs to be had here and I think that with all your work experience you won't have too much trouble securing one that's right for you.

You don't say whether or not you have a family or whether you will be making this 'leap' alone. Obviously if you have a family you will feel the need for more security than if you only have yourself to consider.

Don't put your dream to one side - try to fulfill it. How awful it would be to think that in future years you may be saying to your kids 'well, I nearly lived in NZ once upon a time........'

Where there's a will there a way.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Julie

xx

[manam]

Hi Manam.

First of all, let me say that our position was different to yours in the respect that we were granted our PR through the Skilled Migrant Category(a different skill to yours) whilst still in the UK, but had we have known, we would have probably have done things differently. We would have come over here, got the job, got the work visa and applied for PR from within NZ.

There are many jobs to be had here and I think that with all your work experience you won't have too much trouble securing one that's right for you.

You don't say whether or not you have a family or whether you will be making this 'leap' alone. Obviously if you have a family you will feel the need for more security than if you only have yourself to consider.

Don't put your dream to one side - try to fulfill it. How awful it would be to think that in future years you may be saying to your kids 'well, I nearly lived in NZ once upon a time........'

Where there's a will there a way.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Julie

xx

Hey

Thanks for your response.

I will actually be making this move alone...I have my parents who will continue to live in Toronto and have a sister but she'll be moving to London once she gets married which will hopefully be this year.

I have a few options right now.

Option # 1

I can go to UK as a working holiday maker, try to get a job at a Montessori school, gain some practical experience, travel, fulfill my dream of living in UK and then after my visa runs out, go over to NZ...look for work, get a visa and then PR. My fear is that by then, Montessori teachers may no longer be on the shortage list.

Option # 2

...go straight to NZ...look for a job, get visa and then PR

Option # 3

Stay on in Toronto, work in Montessori school, get at least 2 yrs experience and then apply to NZ with experience in a Montessori school under my belt. Brings me back to fear mentioned in Option # 1 :uhoh :roll

:wah

[Trigirl]

This is from montessori.org.nz

# Do Montessori teachers need to have any other teaching qualification?
# Montessori early childhood centres, primary and high schools are required to employ staff who have New Zealand teaching qualifications (or equivalent). There is an increasing requirement in early childhood education to have teachers who can be registered with the New Zealand Teachers Council. This means staff need, in addition to specialist Montessori training, a New Zealand Diploma of Teaching (or equivalent) or a Bachelors degree. In New Zealand, Montessori diplomas are not considered equivalent to the three- year New Zealand Diploma of Teaching. In Montessori early childhood centres at least one staff member needs to have a New Zealand Diploma of Teaching, and the Ministry of Education require all early childhood staff to be qualified and registered by 2012. Primary teachers also need to be registered, although some Montessori teachers may be given positions under “Limited Authority to Teach”. This position does not receive full teacher funding.

it sounds as though even though montessori teachers are in short supply your ability to teach in NZ without a recognised teaching degree may be quite limited - and potentially not well paid of funding is limited?