Ministry of Education report predicts secondary schools will be short of 710 teachers this year
A new report shows a continuing demand for high school teachers and predicts a shortfall of 710 this year.
The shortage amounts to an average of more than one teacher per secondary school, according to the Ministry of Education’s Teacher Demand and Supply Report released today.
It found high schools in most regions need more teachers, with particularly strong demand in Wellington, Otago, Northland, Manawatū‑Whanganui and parts of Auckland.
It also found gaps remained in specialist subjects, such as maths, science, technology and te reo Māori.
Meanwhile, primary school teacher numbers are expected to stabilise over the next few years, partly because of a fall in projected roll numbers.
The data now shows primary schools should have sufficient teachers because the immigration of school-aged children has dropped significantly since last year.
That immigration rate was no longer at a record high, which means a reduced demand for teachers.
The ministry expects 7100 fewer primary students and 1600 fewer secondary students than previously forecast.
The report found teacher retention in both primary and secondary schools was about 90%, but this did not help to fix the subject gaps.
From this year until 2028, New Zealand is likely to have a small surplus of primary school teachers, though Māori-medium schools and those in rural areas will still face pressures.
Canterbury and central Auckland showed the largest primary teacher surpluses, while shortages remained in Northland, Waikato, Taranaki and Bay of Plenty.
Overall, demand for teachers is expected to remain steady over the next three years.
About 580 primary and 800 secondary teachers are projected to join the workforce this year because of ministry initiatives, which include support for overseas teachers to relocate and an expansion of the School Onsite Training Programme.
Janhavi Gosavi is a Wellington-based journalist for the Herald.