Job Discussion Forums

[TanyaKearney]

Hey there! Just trying to start my search for info about teaching in New Zealand. I want to know if there are other teachers there I can talk to. I don't know if there is a demand in the industry and I know to check Teach NZ, but I want to TALK to someone about this possible huge move. There are too many teachers in Ontario and I want OUT! I want to teach, not have to work nights to pay my stupid bills and support my family.

Please let me know any great info or advice you can give me. I don't understand the COSTS of applying for credential checks or what the potential chances are of getting a job.

[keitepai]

Hello,
I am not in NZ right now but have lots of teacher friends that I keep in contact with so I may be able to help with some of your questions.

What sort of degree do you have?
You will need certified copies of your qualifications, teacher registration or equivalent professional body in Canada, and then follow the directions on TeachNZ for NZQA assesssment of your quals.

This will determine if you are even eligible to teach without further training. The costs will be on the website.

After that you should look at jobs.
First place to look for jobs are; www.edgazette.govt.nz for state schools.
This will give you an idea of which areas need teachers....yes there is a demand but you may be stuck in a 'hard to staff area' which is rough but also attracts grants as an incentive to work there. You may be eligble for around NZ$2500 if you work in one of these areas. Right now they are; Auckland, Northland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, West coast Sth island, have I missed any?? Bay of Plenty would be my pick of the bunch

I would advise you to check out rent prices in the areas you are interested in living....I left NZ for the very reasons you stated in your post. Be very sure the grass is really greener! Check the weather in the area you are considering ie Palmerston North is so windy and bleak, Nelson expensive to live in....houses in NZ are not warm and the cost of heating is high.

In NZ you are either trained for;
Early Childhood - kindergarten/preschool
Primary - including intermediate ages (5-12years)
Secondary - called 'high school' or 'college'

Start to think in these terms as no one will want to hear Canadian terms for the above - sorry but it's true! NZ'ers are very intolerant at times.
Generally you cannot move from one sector to another without extra training, Early Childhood is considered specialist so don't assume you will slip into a job from Primary.

Another consideration is that you may be expected to take a course in Te Reo Maori which is an official language of NZ. You won't be expected to become fluent but have an understanding of local customs and basic pronounciation. It would certainly give you an advantage.

If you still want to go and your qualification has checked out then you need to apply to the NZ teachers council for registration www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz - no registration no job by law. There will be information there about criminal checks etc, costs.

Please ask any questions but remember you need to go on to the websites and download forms, and just follow the process. It will be lengthy but you may be in time for the new school year in January 2010. Jobs will start being advertised during November.

Enjoy

[TanyaKearney]

Thank you so much for the honest reply. It's hard when every website glosses everything up and doesn't give you a realistic expectation. I have heard about the native language and would expect they would need me to do something with that!

I don't really want Primary anyways - I'm more of a Junior age teacher with my personality. I can be tough and to be honest, the "tough" schools here don't really faze me as I can be strict but cool at the same time. The token "bad" kids love me because I'm not fake with them. I think this is a definite asset.

I mean, here, if someone asked about a job, I'd say forget it, you can't get one - you can't even get on supply anymore because we have thousands of teachers who can't get work. It's time to consider a drastic move. I have to consider my husband as well. I think a lot of people are leaving Canada because they want to teach and are honestly unable. I can supply, but it isn't guaranteed, isn't steady, doesn't give me any benefit in the summer, no benefits otherwise, etc. There are no reasons to stay in this limbo. I'm frustrated and want to work with kids and the area here is making it impossible.

Our other option is to consider Scandinavia which has its own issues with the EU passport stuff and job availability. BC would be nice, but they are starting to not have jobs due to overwhelming numbers of teachers elsewhere moving there to work.

I'm tired of banging my head on my desk - there has to be work elsewhere!

[bje]

Why don't you take a look at Brunei? You'll find a great deal of information on the S.E. Asia forum.

[spiral78]

Our other option is to consider Scandinavia which has its own issues with the EU passport stuff and job availability.


Scandinavia?

Uh, speaking of competition...the market is TINY and really basically limited to people with contacts (preferably spouses) and very high-level quals.

Seriously, near-zero chances (is 'my' word: from an MA TESL/TEFL holder with 12 years experience in Europe, and friends in the biz in all of Scand. countries: and I keep a close check on what's going in that region, as I'd jump at the slightest chance to work there - along with about a half million other teachers).

[TanyaKearney]

Thanks - that's what I thought..

[keitepai]

Hi again,

EU without an EU passport forget it - I've tried! I settled for Turkey which is not too bad and just travel to Europe to satisfy my travel bug. I have a tag-a-long spouse and kids too so I sympathise with your need for a stable job. Have you thought of teaching at International schools? Good benefits, nice kids and very interesting variety of cultures.

If you don't mind tough kids you may be just the person for a 'hard to staff area' in NZ tho. Early Chidlhood is in my opinon the better job in these area's. Is your degree in Early Childhood or general teaching??

NZ honestly has some seriously disturbed kids, this quote is from a news report in NZ today...."The little nation, which prides itself on its clean, green image and liberal social policy, is placed third among OECD nations for child deaths due to maltreatment, four spots ahead of Australia, according to UNICEF. It is ranked fifth for both child beatings and sexual abuse, again several places ahead of its Antipodean neighbour."

Imagine the kids that survive, they are messed up badly (ashamed to say )