[upnorthkyosa]

I've been researching the workings of the NZ school system for some time and I have some questions about some stuff because I'm totally stumped.

Here is the NZ collective bargaining agreement for secondary teachers.

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/web/downloadable/dl10003_v1/stca-2004-2007-word.doc

The part that specifically deals with salary is right here...

4.1 Salary Scales
The following salary rates are payable to teachers covered by this agreement from the dates specified.

(a) Base scale

Step Former Rates Rates effective21 July 2004 Rates effective20 July 2005 Rates effective19 July 2006
1 24,526 * 25,139 * 25,893 * 26,670 *
2 25,592 26,232 27,019 27,830
3 27,726 G1E 28,419 G1E 29,272 G1E 30,150 G1E
4 29,858 G2E # 30,604 G2E # 31,522 G2E # 32,468 G2E #
5 33,057 33,883 34,899 35,946
6 36,256 G3E 37,162 G3E 38,277 G3E 39,425 G3E
7 37,323 G3+E 38,256 G3+E 39,404 G3+E 40,586 G3+E
8 38,922 G4E 39,895 G4E 41,092 G4E 42,325 G4E
9 41,055 G5E 42,081 G5E 43,343 G5E 44,643 G5E
10 44,254 G1M 45,360 G1M 46,721 G1M 48,123 G1M
11 47,453 G2M 48,639 G2M 50,098 G2M 51,601 G2M
12 51,825 53,121 54,715 56,356
13 53,638 G3M 54,979 G3M 56,628 G3M 58,327 G3M
14 56,393 G3+M 57,803 G3+M 59,537 G3+M 61,323 G3+M

(b) Units
Former Rate Rates effective21 July 2004 Rates effective20 July 2005 Rates effective19 July 2006
Rate per annum 3,000 3,300 3,400 3,500
* = Entry point for teachers who lack both recognised training and qualifications.
# = Maximum for teachers who lack both recognised training and qualifications.
The ‘G’ notations relate to the entry points and qualifications maxima for teachers who have successfully completed a recognised course of teacher education.
G1 = recognised teacher education qualification not at degree level.
G2 = G1 qualifications plus two-thirds of a bachelor’s degree (other than where the G1 qualification has resulted in the granting of a partial bachelor’s degree by cross-crediting) or completed qualification recognised in Group 2 on the Qualifications Chart or subsequent lists.
G3 = 3 year bachelor’s degree or recognised equivalent.
G4 = 4 year honours degree or recognised equivalent.
G5 = 5 year master’s degree or PhD or recognised equivalent.
Note 1: Untrained teachers with recognised qualifications start two steps behind trained teachers with equivalent qualifications.
Note 2: At the date of settlement the parties are awaiting determination of the full extent of the definition of the G3+ qualification group.

I have a masters degree in education and I'm assuming that it will be assessed at qualification level 9 by NZQA.

So, here are my questions...

1. Would my starting salary be a step 9 on this scale?
2. How do years of experience work into this? I have seven.
3. How exactly does one advance steps on this scale? From what I am reading, a teacher advances one step for ever year of service they have completed. Am I wrong?
4. Is there anyone here that can help me understand how this works or maybe point me toward someone who could answer my questions?

[upnorthkyosa]

And if anyone can explain how the whole "units" system works, that would be wonderful...

[thepiesleys]

Hi John

I am barely one step ahead of you so don't know much really - I arrived in NZ (from u.k) nearly 6 weeks ago with a job offer from a High School - (called colleges normally here) with my NZQA report and my teacher reg. in place.

NZQA are known to not recognise all qualifications and they go on a 'best fit' kinda route. I have a B.A Hons. degree in English lang/lit ( 3YRS) and a P.G.C.E ( post grad. cert.in Ed) secondary English teaching ( one yr.)

I was assessed at a level 7 for both ( still not sure if you can be assessed at diff.levels for each qualification and then sort of averaged?) I would have been a higher level had i studied for my first degree for 4 years insted of 3 even though i would have the same qual?

Anyway, level 7 it is. When applying for teacher reg. this is when your teaching exp. comes into play, it has to be stated on the form, ( you do not have to provied qualifications certs/transcripts again if you have been through NZQA you just quote so and fill in rest of form and forward with a police clearance certificate from your home country ) ( and others if you have lived there a no. of years) i have no idea how you obtain a police cert.from the US but a phone call to your local PS will start the ball rolling .


Not quite done yet...


When i arrived and visited my school i was tol i would have to fill in a salary assessment form and send to an independent body (School support Ltd, salary assessment unit) For this i would need written 'statements of service' from each body that had employed me as a teacher - EEEK! I only had my references of employment, but luckily have only worked in 2 schools a total of 5 years, so was not too diff. The Statement had to read along the lines of I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT blah blah worked as blah for blah etc. These have to be on headed paper from the institution, copied and cerified by the principal of your school, here or at home or a JP or solicitor etc, and sent off - PHEW!! what a todo!! (you need to keep originals)

I received a letter within a week giving me my exact salary ( i will pm with exact details) I was awarded 4 yrs, work experience instead of 5 because i had worked less than fulltime for a while owing to maternity leave but they were fair.

I hope this is not too long winded and you glean what you need from it.

Sue

[Jenny & Mark]

I would have been a higher level had i studied for my first degree for 4 years insted of 3 even though i would have the same qual?


Hi Sue. I have a four year honours degree in mathematics and it was also assessed at a level 7. If I recall correctly, very, very few people get the honours degree assessed any higher than 7. :no

Thanks for the other words. I did not know that I will need to fill out an additional salary assessment form with employment reference statements.

Mark.

[upnorthkyosa]

After I posted this thread, I found this link and it was helpful.

http://www.ppta.org.nz/internal.asp?CategoryID=100472&SubCatID=100488&SubCat1ID=100489

They take some of the spookey legalese in the contract and turn it into actual people words...;)