The Dominion Post reported that the government is considering letting prospective teachers who have a masters degree skip specialist university training and go straight into the classroom.

The scheme, which is aimed at addressing an upcoming teacher shortage resulting from an ageing workforce, came from the minister of education, Anne Tolley’s recent trip to the United States.

“It is just to try and get some of those top graduates to come into teaching.” Mrs Tolley told the Dominion Post. “We know that good, high-quality teaching makes the greatest different in student learning. Being able to attract into teaching and retain really top-quality students makes a hang of a difference.”

She acknowledged special skills were needed to be a teacher, but it was just a matter of how those skills were taught.

“Some people have had four or five years at university in a speciality and it’s whether you send them off for more years at university, which some are unlikely to do. We need to find different ways to attract them.”

TEU national secretary Sharn Riggs was critical of the proposal, saying teaching is not something you can just pick up as you go:

“She’s the minister of education and here she is advocating less of it. The solutions to the shortage of teachers that will result from an ageing workforce are not standing on a street corner waiting for Mrs Tolley to drive by take them to the nearest school,” said Ms Riggs.

“To recruit and retain good teachers in the face of the upcoming teacher shortage we need to offer fair pay that recognises the skills and time that teachers commit to their work.”