Teachers’ support group

Press, 2 December 1981, Page 6

Teachers’ support group

Post-primary teachers who are made redundant can now get help from a support group set up by the PostPrimary Teachers’ Association in Christchurch. Support groups have been set up throughout New Zealand because of an expected rise in the number of secondary school teachers made redundant. Staffing entitlements are falling at most schools as rolls fall because of the declining number of schoolaged children caused by a declining birth rate since 1961. Teachers are given two years notice of redundancy, but the Canterbury chairman of the P.P.T.A., Mr F. O’Connell, said yesterday that such large numbers were now being given notice that other jobs were getting hard to find. “It is already a serious problem in Auckland,” he said. “We expect it to spread quickly to other areas.” The P.P.T.A.’s head office had asked regional chairmen to set up support groups to counsel teachers made redundant. The Canterbury group comprises Mr O’Connell, two

Canterbury representatives on the national executive, and two senior association members. The number of secondaryschool pupils in Christchurch has fallen by 1000 since 1978, and it is expected to fall by 500 in the next few years. By not replacing teachers who had left or retired

Christchurch schools have been cushioned from widespread redundancies, In spite of that, .five teachers have been given notice since 1978. .A’ Because of a higher retention rate this year that .was likely to continue, far. more redundancies would occur next year, Mr O’Connell said.