Survey of Overseas Teachers 2001

Background

Since 1997, the Research Division of the Ministry of Education has undertaken a number of surveys of overseas teachers. The main aim of these surveys has been to monitor the numbers of 'relatively new' overseas teachers working in New Zealand and to find out how much longer they intended to teach in New Zealand.

Overseas teachers are permitted to work in New Zealand on a work permit for up to three years, after which time they are required to leave the country or obtain permanent residency here. Some overseas teachers will have already obtained permanent residency which provides a fair indication of their intention to remain in New Zealand . However, an accurate assessment of the extent to which overseas teachers are applying for permanent residency in New Zealand and of their future intentions is not known. The retention of overseas teachers is particularly significant when projecting the future demand for teachers.

While in previous years the surveys of overseas teachers have been carried out to cover both the primary and secondary sectors, this year it was decided to survey only teachers in intermediate, composite and secondary schools. The rationale for taking this approach was that growth was still evident at the intermediate school level (Years 7 and 8) even though primary school rolls were expected to have peaked in 2001. Current projections now expect Year 7 to peak in 2002 and Year 8 in 2003. Secondary school rolls are now increasing as primary students move through the school system and are expected to peak in 2006.

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