Teacher Shortage in Early Childhood Education Survey Completed on 05/08/2019 2,011 Responses Results Question 1 Do you believe there is a shortage of early childhood teachers in New Zealand? 129 No 129 6.41% Yes 1882 93.59% Grand Total 2011 Yes No 1882 Regional Breakdown Auckland No Yes Total 18 2.71% 647 97.29% 665 9 7.44% 112 92.56% 121 24 7.34% 303 92.66% 327 Gisborne 2 15.38% 11 84.62% 13 Hawkes Bay 9 11.54% 69 88.46% 78 Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast 4 9.09% 40 90.91% 44 Northland 7 12.07% 51 87.93% 58 Otago/Southland 10 8.40% 109 91.60% 119 Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatu 12 6.74% 166 93.26% 178 Waikato 16 8.29% 177 91.71% 193 Wellington 18 8.37% 197 91.63% 215 Grand Total 129 6.41% 1882 93.59% 2011 Bay of Plenty Canterbury Colour coding: highest percentage in ‘yes’ column is red, lowest in ‘no’ column is red. 1 Question 2 Has your centre experienced difficulty finding qualified early childhood teachers in the past 12 months? 193 No 193 9.60% Unsure 94 4.67% Yes 1724 85.73% Grand Total 2011 94 Yes No Unsure 1724 Regional Breakdown No Yes Unsure Total Auckland 37 5.56% 615 92.48% 13 1.95% 665 Bay of Plenty 17 14.05% 99 81.82% 5 4.13% 121 Canterbury 37 11.31% 269 82.26% 21 6.42% 327 Gisborne 2 15.38% 10 76.92% 1 7.69% 13 Hawkes Bay 11 14.10% 60 76.92% 7 8.97% 78 Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast 9 20.45% 32 72.73% 3 6.82% 44 Northland 6 10.34% 47 81.03% 5 8.62% 58 Otago/Southland 11 9.24% 99 83.19% 9 7.56% 119 Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatu 20 11.24% 148 83.15% 10 5.62% 178 Waikato 115 7.77% 170 88.08% 8 4.15% 193 Wellington 28 13.02% 175 81.40% 12 5.58% 215 Grand Total 193 9.60% 1724 85.73% 94 4.67% 2011 Colour coding: highest percentage in ‘yes’ column is red, lowest in ‘no’ column is red. 2 Question 3 Roughly how long has your centre spent looking for an appropriate qualified early childhood teacher to hire? 135 A few weeks 135 6.71% More than one month 341 16.96% More than one year 263 13.08% More than six months 467 23.22% More than three months 552 27.45% Unsure 253 12.58% Grand Total Regional Breakdown 253 341 552 263 467 2011 A few weeks More than one month More than three months A few weeks More than six months More than one month Unsure More than one year More than three months More than six months More than one year Unsure Total Auckland 21 3.16% 81 12.18% 174 26.17% 205 30.83% 132 19.85% 52 7.82% 665 Bay of Plenty 13 10.74% 25 20.66% 33 27.27% 19 15.70% 17 14.05% 14 11.57% 121 Canterbury 21 6.42% 64 19.57% 107 32.72% 72 22.02% 18 5.50% 45 13.76% 327 Gisborne 2 15.38% 0.00% 2 15.38% 4 30.77% 1 7.69% 4 30.77% 13 Hawkes Bay 9 11.54% 12 15.38% 24 30.77% 16 20.51% 5 6.41% 12 15.38% 78 Nelson/Marlborough /West Coast 7 15.91% 9 20.45% 10 22.73% 10 22.73% 4 9.09% 4 9.09% 44 Northland 8 13.79% 12 20.69% 12 20.69% 9 15.52% 10 17.24% 7 12.07% 58 Otago/Southland 8 6.72% 24 20.17% 32 26.89% 18 15.13% 16 13.45% 21 17.65% 119 Taranaki/Whanganui /Manawatu 14 7.87% 35 19.66% 48 26.97% 38 21.35% 13 7.30% 30 16.85% 178 Waikato 13 6.74% 37 19.17% 59 30.57% 38 19.69% 19 9.84% 27 13.99% 193 Wellington 19 8.84% 42 19.53% 51 23.72% 38 17.67% 28 13.02% 37 17.21% 215 Grand Total 135 6.71% 341 16.96% 552 27.45% 467 23.22% 263 13.08% 253 12.58% 2011 Colour coding: highest percentage in ‘yes’ column is red, lowest in ‘no’ column is red. 3 Question 4 Is your centre finding it harder to find qualified early childhood teachers now than it was three years ago? 139 No 139 6.91% Unsure 299 14.87% Yes 1573 78.22% Grand Total 2011 299 Yes No Unsure 1573 Regional Breakdown No Yes Unsure Total Auckland 33 4.96% 566 85.11% 66 9.92% 665 Bay of Plenty 13 10.74% 90 74.38% 18 14.88% 121 Canterbury 17 5.20% 247 75.54% 63 19.27% 327 Gisborne 1 7.69% 8 61.54% 4 30.77% 13 Hawkes Bay 7 8.97% 58 74.36% 13 16.67% 78 Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast 7 15.91% 32 72.73% 5 11.36% 44 Northland 8 13.79% 40 68.97% 10 17.24% 58 Otago/Southland 12 10.08% 87 73.11% 20 16.81% 119 Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatu 12 6.74% 131 73.60% 35 19.66% 178 Waikato 11 5.70% 157 81.35% 25 12.95% 193 Wellington 18 8.37% 157 73.02% 40 18.60% 215 Grand Total 139 6.91% 1573 78.22% 299 14.87% 2011 Colour coding: highest percentage in ‘yes’ column is red, lowest in ‘no’ column is red. 4 Question 5 Has your centre had to reduce the number of educators in your centre as a result of a shortage of qualified early childhood teachers? No 995 49.48% Unsure 312 15.51% Yes 704 35.01% Grand Total 2011 704 Yes 995 No Unsure 312 Regional Breakdown No Yes Unsure Total 295 44.36% 280 42.11% 90 13.53% 665 71 58.68% 34 28.10% 16 13.22% 121 167 51.07% 103 31.50% 57 17.43% 327 8 61.54% 4 30.77% 1 7.69% 13 Hawkes Bay 37 47.44% 23 29.49% 18 23.08% 78 Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast 23 52.27% 18 40.91% 3 6.82% 44 Northland 32 55.17% 15 25.86% 11 18.97% 58 Otago/Southland 70 58.82% 37 31.09% 12 10.08% 119 Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatu 89 50.00% 59 33.15% 30 16.85% 178 Waikato 91 47.15% 73 37.82% 29 15.03% 193 Wellington 112 52.09% 58 26.98% 45 20.93% 215 Grand Total 995 49.48% 704 35.01% 312 15.51% 2011 Auckland Bay of Plenty Canterbury Gisborne Colour coding: highest percentage in ‘yes’ column is red, lowest in ‘no’ column is red. 5 Question 6 Has your centre had to hire an unqualified teacher as a result of the lack of qualified teachers available? No 441 21.93% Unsure 146 7.26% Yes 1424 70.81% Grand Total 2011 441 Yes No 146 Unsure 1424 Regional Breakdown No Yes Unsure Total 107 16.09% 525 78.95% 33 4.96% 665 Bay of Plenty 27 22.31% 86 71.07% 8 6.61% 121 Canterbury 81 24.77% 223 68.20% 23 7.03% 327 Gisborne 4 30.77% 7 53.85% 2 15.38% 13 Hawkes Bay 23 29.49% 47 60.26% 8 10.26% 78 Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast 13 29.55% 29 65.91% 2 4.55% 44 Northland 20 34.48% 36 62.07% 2 3.45% 58 Otago/Southland 23 19.33% 86 72.27% 10 8.40% 119 Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatu 47 26.40% 113 63.48% 18 10.11% 178 Waikato 36 18.65% 137 70.98% 20 10.36% 193 Wellington 60 27.91% 135 62.79% 20 9.30% 215 Grand Total 441 21.93% 1424 70.81% 146 7.26% 2011 Auckland Colour coding: highest percentage in ‘yes’ column is red, lowest in ‘no’ column is red. 6 Question 7 What do you think the Government should do to address teacher shortages in early childhood education? (+ further comments) 2,733 individual comments/feedback. Sample of quotes below: “Quality of care is impacted as we have been forced to utilise relievers so there is lack of consistency for our children” “We are in crisis mode…” “…we are struggling to stay open” “The amount of teachers who are now with agencies only reduced the quality and care of ECE… they also cause the children to miss out on those essential relationships as there is so often not enough time with one person to form a strong bond.” “We are working with teachers with performance issues and have to tippy toe around them as we can’t afford to lose them, given better times we would be tougher in dealing with the situation.” “What will it take for the government to see ECE is in real crisis?” “The issue is dire in Auckland and impacting on learning outcomes for children. “We own and operate 5 centres and all 5 struggle to find staff with a good reputation. Used to have 50 applications now lucky to get one suitable” “We will lose more teachers if something isn’t done. “In the long term we are going to see more children with behaviour / mental health problems because of a lack of certificated teachers in ECE” “We need change ASAP otherwise the teacher shortage will get worse and the children will suffer. “It should be more straightforward for Primary trained teachers to work in ECE. I shouldn’t have to pay thousands of dollars and spend 14 weeks on unpaid practicum, when I am already a fully registered NZ Primary teacher with 7 years’ experience” “Over the last 3 years we have seen a crazy amount of turnover at the centre my kids attend. “… the quality of care and learning is compromised as relievers don’t focus on their duty as a Teacher.” “Something needs to be done now” “The Government needs to do something about it if they want the best for the children and whanau, and ultimately for society” “A lot of teachers are under so much pressure to be there for funding purposes. Always out of ratio, and it is stressful with lots of upset children and not enough teachers to care, nurture, teach” 7 Question 7 What do you think the Government should do to address teacher shortages in early childhood education? (+ further comments) 2,733 individual comments/feedback. Sample of quotes below: ‘…Centres are giving jobs to people that actually aren’t suitable for the job, it’s done to fill a gap and then doesn’t work out so the cycle just continues.” “We are in crisis, it is time to make changes that benefit and protect the youngest members of society. “I value that unqualified kaiako are also very skilled with life skills too and are often more passionate and skilled than qualified kaiako, I would like to see certification of untrained who are stunning kaiako – metting high quality teaching practices in centre. “I myself am seriously considering leaving the sector because of the high stress conditions. None of what is happening is good for our tamariki or our kaiako” “Many ECE teachers are women and all of these women love children and will often take leave or time off to have their families, by the time they come back it can be hard because registration has been lost or neglected….A way to keep mothers in touch or able to keep working in ECE, special exemptions to maintain registration while having a family…” 8