Pupils back teachers' rolling stoppages

More than 120,000 students will be asked to stay at home for a day this week after the teachers' union reject the Ministry pay offer. Photo / Greg Bowker

Striking teachers have found support among some of their students in their bid for a pay rise and better conditions.

Stand Up, the youth sector of the Council of Trade Unions, is backing teachers who plan rolling strikes after negotiations with the Ministry of Education broke down again this week.

Nearly 60,000 Year 9 students have been told to stay at home today and 63,000 Year 11 students tomorrow in a move the ministry criticised as a disruption to students and their families. More one-day strikes are planned each week for the rest of the term.

Education Minister Anne Tolley said many of the parents having to find childcare would not have had the sort of pay increases teachers were seeking.

She urged the teachers to accept the ministry's "very good offer".

Stand Up spokesman James Sleep said the Government was unfairly using concerns about students to attack teachers.

"This Government is treating New Zealand teachers with contempt. If the Government wants to attract and retain teachers in this country, they need to treat them with respect ... their pay and conditions do not reflect the enormous amount of time put into ensuring young people grow up to be informed and engaged members of our society."

Rory McCourt, 18, head boy of Lytton High School in Gisborne, said he wanted teachers to be able to keep their current conditions and receive a fair pay increase.

"As a student I understand the reasons why my teachers are going on strike. And I support them. I'm not a victim of their 'selfishness'. I'm a victim of the Government's."

PPTA president Kate Gainsford said it was good to hear students understood the issues. As a mother with a Year 11 son staying home tomorrow, she understood the inconvenience to parents. However, the strikes were not something teachers were doing to "become popular".

Canterbury will be exempt from this week's strike after yesterday's strong aftershocks.