There isn't a lot more money - Tolley

Education Minister Anne Tolley. Photo / Daily Post

Education Minister Anne Tolley says secondary school teachers striking over pay and conditions need to wake up to the economic reality of their situation.

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 of Education criticised as a disruption to students and their families.

More one-day strikes are planned each week for the rest of the term. Canterbury will be exempt from this week's strike after yesterday's strong aftershocks.

Ms Tolley told Radio New Zealand this morning the ministry did not have enough in its budget to give teachers their desired 4 per cent pay rise without cutting funding from other areas of the sector.

"I don't think the public will like that," she said. "There isn't a lot more money, the education sector needs to realise that.

"We are operating in very tight conditions."

Ms Tolley said issues teachers had about work conditions should be taken up with their school's board of trustees.

"The ministry funds secondary schools on the average of 17 students per one teacher. The boards decide how to use this funding.

"That's where those conversations should be happening."

She urged the Post Primary Teachers Association to return to the negotiating table.

PPTA president Kate Gainsford said yesterday the latest offer equated to a smaller increase in salary rates than the government's initial offer in June.

"There has been no substantial shift between this offer and the last one received by PPTA, which was rejected by members at an overwhelming 99 per cent."

Ms Gainsford said the PPTA executive felt the new offer did not go far enough towards meeting the claims of the members, and an official notice to this effect had been sent to the Secretary of Education and Boards of Trustees.

Ms Tolley said it was not fair to say the ministry had moved on the issue, but the union was "stuck on" wanting 4 per cent.

"They got that last year when some people were losing their jobs and other people were getting cuts in their pay."

Pupils back teachers

Stand Up, the youth sector of the Council of Trade Unions, is backing teachers.

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."

Ms 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".