10. Question No. 10—EducationTEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 10—Education10. TEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister of Education: Noa'ia 'e mạuri. Does she consider the Government has done enough to address the concerns of teachers striking today?Hon JAN TINETTI (Minister of Education): This Government values the important contribution our teachers make and we are working with the sector to address their concerns and lift the educational outcomes of our students. Following facilitated bargaining earlier this week the Ministry of Education has made an offer for the secondary teachers' collective agreement. Detailed information on the nature of the offer is available on the Ministry of Education website. I understand that the Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) executive are currently considering the offer and that facilitated bargaining will resume if the offer is not accepted. Now I'm not going to get ahead of those processes and therefore do not believe it is in the public interest for me to pass judgment on whether the offer addressed the concerns raised in bargaining. For the area schools' collective agreement as I am not party to the bargaining I cannot comment on the specifics of negotiations.Teanau Tuiono: Does she agree with principals and teachers striking today that there is an urgent staffing crisis in teaching with schools unable to recruit new positions?Hon JAN TINETTI: I am advised that retention rates on the teaching workforce are broadly in line with historical retention rates of around 87 to 88 percent. There has however been an increased level of movement within the profession rather than a net loss of teachers to the overall system. I do know that it is harder in some subjects such as science technology engineering and mathematics subjects and in different locations to recruit teachers into those areas. That is why we put a $24 million package in place in September last year to address those shortages.Teanau Tuiono: How does she respond to the PPTA staffing survey which found that on average one in every four schools cancelled classes and one in every two schools had to transfer courses or classes because of the teacher shortage?Hon JAN TINETTI: I really very much welcome that survey along with other data that we are collecting in this area. It does help inform where the pressure points are and helps inform our response to that so that we can get this right. Our teachers are important. It is important that we do support them. It's also important that they are supported to enable our young people to thrive.Teanau Tuiono: Does she believe that it's acceptable that some secondary school teachers are picking up second jobs on evenings and weekends to keep up with paying the bills because their salaries haven't increased in line with inflation?Hon JAN TINETTI: To the first part of that question no I don't think it's acceptable that teachers are picking up second jobs because they are under so much pressure. Having said that that is why I'm so adamant that we need to get to a settlement soon so that we are getting money in the pockets of our teachers but also the conditions are being well sorted for them.Teanau Tuiono: Does she acknowledge that area schools are facing particular difficulties recruiting staff and if so what steps will she take to ensure that teachers in our rural communities are recognised for the work that they do?Hon JAN TINETTI: Area schools form a unique part of the New Zealand education system and it's one that many of us—I would imagine all of us—in this House value in a great way because of the rural communities that they tend to serve but also the special nature of the communities that they serve as well. That is why bargaining is continuing at this point in time and I am looking forward to hopefully getting bargaining settled very soon to make certain that we get the conditions right for those teachers.Teanau Tuiono: Does the Minister accept that the teacher shortage crisis is directly related to teachers' pay and conditions?Hon JAN TINETTI: It's a lot more complex than that.