In the Prime Minister’s recent State of the Nation speech that marked the starting line of this year’s election race, John Key’s major announcement was a $360m package, over four years, to build four new teacher roles.

A policy that has seen widespread support across the education sector and among the public, it would see the promotion of 6,000 teachers in a workforce of 50,000.

Indeed, it became palpably clear during our concentrated research on teacher quality over the last year that what is missing for teachers is an attractive career path. The Initiative’s specific policy recommendations for strengthening the teaching profession are due for release in March.

However, we strive not only to generate rigorously researched policy solutions, but to influence policy making. In other words, rather than gathering dust on a shelf, we hope to see our reports make their way to decision makers’ in-trays. 

Prior to the launch of the Initiative’s first two reports on teacher quality we met with both Minister of Education Hekia Parata and Labour Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins to discuss the need for an aspirational career structure and to present career models from countries with the best education systems.

The policy announced by Key includes 5,000 new positions for Lead Teachers at each school to open their classrooms and share their practice with others. Notching up another level is the Expert Teacher role for 1,000 teachers who will work across other schools two days a week. They will work under 250 Executive Principals who will be responsible to government for lifting achievement in those schools.

A proper career structure, if implemented well, will deal with a number of systemic problems in New Zealand’s education system. Each year, teachers work their way up one of the most truncated salary scales for teachers in the world. They reach their maximum after eight years, sending a signal that they have reached capacity.  

The newly announced policy has the potential to retain the best teachers to lead the profession. Moreover, it could help persuade more bright and passionate people that teaching is a career of opportunity. And it has the potential to open connections between schools so that schools and teachers who are doing excellent work to improve student achievement can share their secrets to success.  

The devil will be in the detail and in the execution of this policy. However, it is an excellent starting point for recognizing the importance of our teachers, and ultimately, realizing the potential of our Kiwi kids.