Local teachers deserve recognition on World Teachers' Day

 

20 October 2010

 

Most people can tell stories about the teachers that inspired them throughout their early childhood education or school days.

 

UNESCO's World Teachers' Day, celebrated on Friday 29 October in New Zealand and Australia is a day when New Zealanders can thank teachers for educating our youngest citizens to take an active part in our world.

 

“Teachers leave a huge footprint on people’s lives by building the foundation for lifelong learning,” said New Zealand Teachers Council Director Dr Peter Lind.

 

UNESCO describes teachers as “change agents, providing the impetus for the emergence of educated communities”.

 

“The local school or kura is often the heart of a neighbourhood, where learning communities between teachers, students and parents thrive,” said Dr Lind.

 

“Teaching involves reaching out to communities. Teachers are sophisticated communicators who build relationships with families, linking classroom with home.”

 

This World Teachers’ Day, the New Zealand Teachers Council is celebrating the work of qualified and registered teachers, including the country’s newest teachers.

 

“In their first two years on the job, new teachers work with experienced mentor teachers to develop their teaching expertise.

 

“This year we’re excited to host a two-day conference to showcase the findings of an innovative national pilot programme in induction and mentoring.

 

“The pilots are trialling a new approach to what knowledge, skills and development mentor teachers need to accelerate the professional learning of our newest teachers.

“Our focus is on mentoring the next generation of educators to build them into confident and satisfied teachers in the future,” said Dr Lind.

 


ENDS

 

Contact: Director, Dr Peter Lind on 04 470 9055 or 0274 311 523 or
Communications Advisor, Charlotte Brown on 04 470 9087.

 

 

Facts about World Teachers’ Day

World Teachers’ Day was created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1994 to celebrate teachers worldwide. In most countries it was held on 5 October. In New Zealand and Australia, it is being celebrated on 29 October due to the timing of the school holidays. Its aim is to mobilise support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.

 

World Teachers’ Day events

This year early childhood education (ECE) services, schools and kura are celebrating World Teachers’ Day on Friday 29 October. Teachers positively impact entire communities. This World Teachers’ Day why not consider contacting local schools or ECE services to profile their qualified teachers, or ask the community about the teachers who inspired them growing up!

 

Photo competition

In honour of World Teachers Day’ 2010 the New Zealand Teachers Council (the Council) is running a photo competition for ECE, primary and secondary schools. Director Dr Peter Lind said all the photos capture the spirit of ‘Teachers in Action’. The photos will be uploaded to our website www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz by Friday 22 October.

 

Profile of teachers in New Zealand

There are over 96,000 registered teachers with a current practising certificate in New Zealand:

  • 33% across secondary sector
  • 48% across primary
  • 19% across early childhood education

 

of these, there are close to 20,000 provisionally registered teachers with a current practising certificate. Provisionally registered teachers are teachers who have never been fully registered and includes newly qualified teachers.

 

Induction and Mentoring Pilot Programme

In 2009 the Council commissioned an Induction and Mentoring Pilot Programme comprised of four sector specific pilots and an evaluation. The overall aims were to:

 

The four pilots are:

 

Early Childhood Education – New Zealand Kindergartens’ Regional Networks

 

Primary – Auckland University and UniServices’ Educative Mentoring and Induction Programme

 

Secondary – Massey University’s Professional Learning Community

 

Māori Medium – Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi’s Connected Approach

 

To find out more about the Pilot Programme visit the Council’s website http://www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/prt/research/index.stm

 

Voice of a mentor teacher – Kindergarten pilot

Natasha McLellan, a mentor teacher from the New Zealand Kindergartens’ pilot described the programme as an amazing journey.

 

“The pilot has given me a sense of direction as a mentor teacher and supported and guided much of the teacher registration process.

 

“Seeing my provisionally registered teacher achieve her goals and have those ‘aha’ moments has been a highlight.

 

“Being able to have that professional dialogue and those important learning conversations was some of the best professional development I have had.”

 

 

 

For more information on induction and mentoring visit the Council’s website www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/prt/index.stm