Complaints over teachers on rise

According to New Zealand Teachers Council, four teachers in Wairarapa were reported for conduct and competence issues in 2014 - a rise from one case in 2013.

Reports of teacher misconduct and incompetence are on the rise, fresh statistics show.

Information released by the New Zealand Teachers Council under the Official Information Act showed four teachers in Wairarapa were reported to the council for conduct and competence issues in 2014 - a rise from one case in 2013.

During 2014, three teachers were reported over their competence while in 2013, one teacher was reported for sexual behaviour. These reports did not result in convictions.

Meanwhile, one Wairarapa teacher was convicted in 2014 for drugs and alcohol. There were no teacher convictions recorded in 2013.

Rathkeale College principal William Kersten declined to discuss whether any of the cases were connected with his school, but said the number of reports over conduct and competence in Wairarapa was low but it was more than should be expected.

"Any number greater than zero is a disappointment. However, we are humans and we all make mistakes, there are errors of judgment and there are perhaps incompetencies that schools do deal with," he said. "I am not surprised at those numbers and possibly, in some ways, four people across the number of teaching staff in Wairarapa is not bad. It is more than what you want. One or two a year would be expected perhaps."

The rise in cases from 2013 to 2014 was small in Wairarapa, Mr Kersten said, and should be taken as case-by-case situations. However, changes to the New Zealand Teachers Council in 2014 may have had an impact on the rising number of reports of misconduct and competence in other areas, he said.

"Within the Wairarapa I don't know but potentially with larger numbers in areas where there have been significant increases that could well be the case."

Mr Kersten said there was a "greater awareness of what the expectations are" and that was a good thing but, ultimately, accountability had to first come from the teachers.

Teachers Council acting director Rob McIntosh said the figures indicated "a well-informed profession". He said reports increased after nationwide workshops in 2013 and 2014 to ensure teachers and principals were fully aware of their responsibilities.

Mr McIntosh said changes to council rules had also resulted in an increase in the reporting of incidents.

"In 2014, a change was made to council rules which requires all hearings of the Disciplinary Tribunal to be held in public, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. The rule change also removed automatic name suppression for teachers in written Disciplinary Tribunal decisions. This change means teachers, students and parents can be fully aware of sanctions imposed against a teacher - this acts as a deterrent, and an accountability measure."

Mr McIntosh said reports of misconduct were troubling but needed to be considered in context. " There are over 100,000 registered teachers and only a tiny fraction of them have any conditions attached to their practice."