Job Discussion Forums

[dodgee]

Hey. I think the scholaships are available for all PRs as the institute where I got my Diploma in Teaching had a fair few foreign educated teachers who qualified for them. Personal plug for my old training institute the New Zealand Graduate School of Education based in Christchurch. I researched heavily before I started my teachers training and NZGSE affords the best training you can get. Look into it and good luck.

[moot point]

Thanks for your response.

So what do you think?

Should I go to NZ and seek employment for a year or two in order to acquire PR status (I think my greatest asset would be an MA in TEFL/TESL so would need to find work in this industry) and then take advantage of the scholarship offers?

Or should I just fork out the international fees now, get the DipEd, and then start working in the public school system?

[dodgee]

Well my take is that in New Zealand education you are never going to make a fortune at any rate. However, before you get the better paying teaching jobs you need the diploma. NZ pay increments occur yearly and if you have a masters and overseas experience you can start on higher pay levels. if you delay getting the diploma and work you will earn a lot less than in the system and then when you finally enter the system the pay will be less. I am not sure how much intl fees are but if you wait for 3 full years(2years to get PR status and 1 year whilst studying) you will strt on around $5000less p.a than if you started the diploma in year 1.

[moot point]

Thanks a lot. In that case, it would make sense to begin the DipEd programme beforehand. By the way, I've looked at a few different schools and int'l fees run about $15,000 for the one-year (some are 15 months) full-time course.

[JosephP]

Moot Point,

Recently NZIS has implemented new rules concerning students and employment. Graduate students can now work twenty hours per week during the semester and full time during holidays, and if the graduate student has a spouse, the spouse can work full-time (For example, 40 hours per week). This ability to generate extra income might help ease the financial burden if you do choose to study here in New Zealand.

Good luck.

[moot point]

I'm going a bit off-topic here, but am curious on the standard of life of a typical teacher with a couple of kids and a stay-at-home mom. In Canada, especially in rural areas, people in this profession seem to do well. They can afford a nice home and often run a side-business in their "off months". Can I expect a similar situation in New Zealand?

[JosephP]