Marcroft JennyEDUCATION (PROTECTING TEACHER TITLE) AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingJENNY MARCROFT (NZ First): I move That the Education (Protecting Teacher Title) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Education and Workforce Committee to consider the bill.This bill removes the ability of those who have not gained a qualification in teaching from using the title teacher". At this point I'd like to mention my colleague the Hon Tracey Martin. She's the author of the bill and she's a passionate education advocate. So I am honoured today to bring this member's bill to the House.I'd just like to mention that New Zealand First is a bit of a lucky party in terms of members' bills. Tonight we've had Fletcher Tabuteau's bill the KiwiFund Bill pass through its first reading and now I have had my first member's bill drawn from the very first ballot of my parliamentary career. So I am feeling a tad lucky tonight.I'd like to talk on this bill because it is a great challenge to the New Zealand education system at the moment—this is the biggest challenge—that almost everyone believes that they can teach. Teaching is in fact very complex. Teachers who are specifically trained are able to design programmes of learning that are directly in response to the diverse educational and learning requirements of our communities. There is a wide range of learning requirements for our students. Teachers must not only be skilled in the curriculum and specialist subjects but in imparting that knowledge to others. Effective teachers will design programmes of learning that recognise diverse learners.I have been made aware that it was back in the 51st Parliament that members of the former Government who sat on the Education and Science Committee had seriously argued that it's not the education you receive but the school tie that you wear that will determine your future. The previous National Government allowed charter schools to put untrained and unqualified individuals into classrooms and call themselves teachers.Over the last nine years there has been an expansion of what in reality are teaching apprentices into our classrooms by the Teach First NZ programme. Now this is not an attack on these apprentices but it is a statement of fact that they're learning on the job and are not yet trained and qualified teachers. In fact they spend two years before they do become fully qualified. Furthermore we're not saying that those who currently teach in schools with a background in a specific topic that they teach are not efficient educators. We are saying that there should be differentiation between those who are trained in the practice of educating and these subject matter experts. This will not stop these individuals from continuing to teach. This differentiation will also facilitate better understanding for parents. It is our view that it has become increasingly difficult for the public particularly following the introduction of charter schools to be confident that the title "teacher" used by an individual means that that person is adequately qualified for them to lead the teaching and learning of their children. Under this bill all parents can be assured that their child's teacher is an education specialist. We believe that clarity around the use of the title "teacher" is essential in order to avoid any misunderstanding by the public about qualifications the registration status and professional oversight by the persons using the title of "teacher".The current Government is in the process of significantly reforming the education system since taking office just last year. The Education (Protecting Teacher Title) Amendment Bill would complement the changes to the Teaching Council of Aotearoa and the process of charter schools becoming special character schools.Now following on from today's announcement by the Minister of Education the Hon Chris Hipkins of his three-year work plan for education the Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis highlighted the priority of lifting achievement for Māori students through professional development of a workplace of culturally competent teachers.This bill aims to reinforce that teaching is a profession and like many professions you cannot give yourself the title without doing the hard work and gaining the appropriate qualifications. We know that it's not the pay or the glamour so what is it? What draws people into the classroom to become teachers? This is a profession whose status has been under attack for the past nine years a profession that many people think that they can do because once they went to school or because they have consistently heard that those who can't do teach. We need this rhetoric to stop. This is a profession that when done right can inspire a single individual or a whole group of people to become the best that they can be. It can provide a springboard for lifting people out of poverty. It's the profession to which parents across the country entrust their tamariki for hours and hours in a day weeks and years of their lives to be nurtured and developed to have their eyes opened to a totality of possibilities and to begin the journey of meeting their potential.In the 21st century nothing is more important than the role of our teachers. The profession is not just a job; it's a huge responsibility. Using the title of teacher should be safeguarded in the same way as being a doctor a judge or an engineer. In New Zealand that responsibility is not reflected in the teacher's professional status. However in Finland this is one of the most sought-after respected and highly prized professions in the country. In Finland the status of teachers is on a par with being a brain surgeon. High-quality teachers are the hallmark of Finland's education system. Annual national opinion polls have repeatedly shown that teaching in Finland is the most admired profession and primary school teaching is the most sought-after career.This is New Zealand First's vision for teaching and teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand. We acknowledge that some have expressed concern about this bill and we also thank those who have articulated their support of its first reading to get this bill to select committee.There's a swathe of professions that have their titles protected. I could list many of them. Some of them are unusual titles and some of them are standard through the health system. Many of those professions are listed and protected. You may be interested to know—and this is probably the one I find most interesting—that one profession with a protected title is "cadastral surveyor".The Education (Protecting Teacher Title) Amendment Bill will ensure that those who use the title "teacher" must be qualified with the required training and skills. With several amendments to the Education Act 1989 over the recent years it's now possible to have individuals in classrooms who have no recognised teaching qualification. Therefore they should not be able to use the title of teacher. They may use other titles such as educator tutor lecturer or whatever. But the title of teacher must be restricted to those who have completed recognised qualifications. This will provide a clear message for parents caregivers and students that the individual using the title has in fact trained and completed the training as a teacher.We note as I'm sure the Opposition will the concern from the Ministry of Justice suggesting that this bill breaches the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. They comment that they have concluded that the bill appears to be inconsistent with the right of freedom of expression affirmed in section 14 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. However I draw members' attention to another point they make which is that section 14 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act affirms that everyone has the right to freedom of expression including the freedom to seek receive and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form. The freedom of expression is as wide as human thought and imagination and includes any activity which conveys or attempts to convey a meaning. I would welcome select committee scrutiny of this advice and how that affects other professions say gasfitters or plumbers or lawyers.By providing this simple method of identification parents truly have the choice when it comes to who is leading the learning in their child's education if the teacher title is protected. This is a simple clarification that will support the professional status of teachers. It will send a clear message to our teachers across Aotearoa New Zealand that they are valued. I commend this bill to the House."