Special allowance for rural area teachers

Press, 2 May 1981, Page 3

Special allowance for rural area teachers

Wellington reporter '* A special staffing allowance of $529 a year will replace the country service salary bar as an incentive to teachers to work in rural areas. The' Minister of Education ‘ (Mr Wellington) said the al- ' lowance, which was part of a package including payment of removal expenses, was ..backdated to November 10. About 1400 primary teachers should benefit, from the measure. All sole and two-teacher schools, and schools with additional staff under the notional roll scheme (those having higher teacher entitlement because of special teaching needs) will qualify automatically. A further 315 rural schools have been designated, and schools with special staffing difficulties are being identified so they will qualify.

Mr Wellington said that although the package would benefit mainly rural schools, urban schools with staffing problems would be eligible. The allowance will be paid to teachers in designated schools. The associated arrangement for removal ex-

penses replaces the "country service list.”. "The new measures will strengthen the staffing of rural schools,” Mr Wellington said. "They will ensure that rural pupils continue to be taught by. top rate teachers who are' not financially disadvantaged by service outside urban areas.” The country service salary bar has applied for 50 years. It was designed to encourage all teachers to spend some time teaching in rural schools by slowing promotion otherwise. The new scheme would continue the intention of the salary bar, while giving greater room for teachers to base decisions on educational needs and priorities rather than arbitrary criteria, Mr Wellington said.