By mid-2021 about $72m had been spent recruiting 7595 teachers and student teachers, the report said. Initiatives included finders fees and relocation grants for overseas teachers and scholarships for people enrolling in teacher education courses. The report showed overseas finders' fees and relocation grants were among the most cost-effective ways of attracting new teachers at $2890-$4270 per teacher, along with 'refresh' courses for teachers re-entering the workforce, which cost the government less than $2000 per teacher. The report suggested paying bigger financial incentives for teachers bonded to hard-to-staff schools. Principals spoken to by RNZ said the best way to attract more people to teaching was to increase teacher pay rates.

Source: Otago Daily Times June 11, 2022 03:37 UTC