Education Minister Chris Hipkins said National's plan would have created a $37.5 million "hole" in the education budget. Kaye had planned to extend it to all Auckland schools, at a cost which Education Minister Chris Hipkins said would have been $37.5 million a year. The scheme has helped 40 schools to employ beginning teachers before their rolls grew enough to justify an extra teacher. • Help to retain experienced teachers whose practising certificates are about to expire, and attract back teachers who haven't taught for six years, by covering the cost of the Teacher Education Refresher course. A survey this week found that 14% of primary schools nationally, and 20% in Auckland, will start next year at least one teacher short.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 12, 2017 22:41 UTC