Teacher shortages in secondary schools are at their highest since 2008, according to data compiled by the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA). The PPTA describes the secondary teacher shortage as ``crisis point''. ``National has ignored looming teacher shortages the entire time they've been in Government,'' he said. Critical teaching shortages had grown, he said, as funding to programmes that helped recruit people into the profession had dropped. Meanwhile, Auckland's ``ridiculous'' house prices have been blamed for escalating the teacher shortage in the country's largest city, forcing young teachers out.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 26, 2017 23:08 UTC