'Monty Python' saga hits teacher seeking NZ job

A British teacher recruited to teach in an Auckland school says the process of getting his qualifications recognised has been a 'Monty Python' experience. Photo / 123RF

A British teacher recruited to start at an Auckland school todaysays getting approval to teach in New Zealand has been a "Monty Python" experience.

The teacher, who asked not to be named because he and his wife plan to apply for NZ residence, has a master's degree in education from a top British university and 10 years' teaching experience, as well as experience as a professional writer.

But it cost him $758 and took almost three months to get his British qualification verified by the NZ Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

Then he had to apply to the Education Council for registration to teach in New Zealand, and to Immigration NZ for a work visa.

"With every government department - NZQA, the teacher register, the visa process - every single one always asked for something to be done differently. You just feel like the system is there to delay you," he said.

"It's been a Monty Python sketch for me. A normal person would wonder why I didn't chuck it all in and go home.

"I was committed to it, but you feel like you are a prisoner in an unfair system. It's very difficult."

The Government allocated $9 million last year to a package of measures to solve the teacher shortage, including a campaign to recruit teachers from Britain.

But some schools recruiting overseas said they were also being forced to jump through more official hoops to recruit them.

Auckland Grammar School principal Tim O'Connor said schools now had to advertise several times in New Zealand and prove that there were no suitable applicants in the country before they could recruit from overseas.

"We are having to justify to Immigration NZ the reason for appointing someone from the UK. That does take some time," he said.

"The other side is their qualifications. That is a time-consuming process that can take several months. It's an important step in the process that people have the right bachelor's degree or master's, and that their teaching qualifications match up."

Macleans College principal Byron Bentley said he employed teachers with a "limited authority to teach" while their qualifications were being verified.

An NZQA spokeswoman the agency received 660 applications to assess overseas teaching qualifications in the past six months, up 18.7 per cent from the previous six months.

"Of the 660 applications, we have processed 427 applications for international qualification assessments," she said.

"The remaining applications include those which were for 'teaching salary' purposes only, and those which came in towards the end of the six month period and are currently being processed."