Redesignation angers manual teachers

Press, 17 December 1986, Page 8

Redesignation angers manual teachers

Home economics and i woodcraft teachers are angered by the decision of t the Minister of Education, t Mr Marshall, to redesig- < nate manual teachers in 1 intermediate schools as 1 primary teachers. Manual teachers have j previously all been . classed as secondary , teachers. Those choosing j to teach in the primary ( service have had the . same training, and right • to employment in the . secondary service. Mr Marshall notified the Post-Primary 1 Teacher’s Association of < his decision, but has made <

no public announcement. Manual teachers say they are shocked and angry at the Minister’s decision, and held stopwork meetings throughout New Zealand yesterday. They do not accept the Minister’s decision, saying that in their view secondary education begins in Form 1, and secondary qualifications and training are necessary for teaching pupils in Forms 1 and 2. Manual teachers in Forms 1 and 2 should continue to be trained and employed as secondary

teachers with secondary salaries and conditions of service, said a statement from the meeting. They wished to continue as full members of the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association, with the P.P.T.A. negotiating for them. The issue had been outstanding for many years, and the Minister had been unable to get consensus, said his staff yesterday. The Minister’s decision to give manual intermediate teachers primary status was based on the belief that all teachers in the primary service ought to be regarded as primary teachers.

Mr Marshall has given no indication of when the decision will take effect. He has asked the Education Department to examine all aspects of the change, including timing, possible changes in training, and salaries.