Principals under pressure: widespread opposition to sector changes

Principals across the country have voiced opposition to the changes in education with open letters to Minister of Education Erica Stanford.  

The Western Bay of Plenty Principals Association (WBOPPA), the Hawkes Bay Principals’ Association, the Canterbury Primary Principals’ Association (CPPA), and the Rotorua Principals’ Association (RPA) have all released open letters through the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF) opposing the sector changes and endorsing collective actions proposed by NZPF.  

Read the latest print edition of School News online HERE.

These include:  

• Disengaging with the latest English and Mathematics/Statistics curricula, including regional curriculum PLD provided by MoE until concerns are heard and acted on; 

• Calling on MoE to urgently revisit the Mathematics/Statistics curriculum and extend the implementation timeline to Term Three, 2026;  

• Honouring PLD commitments for the 2024 draft Mathematics/Statistics and English curricula. 

All organisations have also opposed the removal of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi clause for school boards and changes to the Teaching Council.  

Principals said the pace of change was unsustainable and criticised the lack of meaningful consultation and engagement from the Ministry of Education with the education sector.  

Related School News article: Principals set to boycott curriculum roadshow for leaders.

Looming exodus 

Following the release of the open letters, NZEI Te Riu Roa published the results of an insights poll of 228 primary school principals, reporting that 73 percent of respondents were likely to quit within five years. 

It also found that 97 percent of primary principals found the implementation timelines unrealistic; 99 percent said the changes placed significant additional pressure on school leaders, with 96 reporting adverse effects on their health and wellbeing. Ninety percent of principals also found the PLD and resources provided by the Ministry of Education to be insufficient. 

Related School News article: Principals’ Federation calls on MoE to ‘codesign’ policy with education sector.

Principal representative for NZEI Te Riu Roa, Martyn Weatherill, said the results were alarming.  

“Our primary challenge is that we weren’t provided with the time, training, or resources to absorb the speed and complexity of the imposed changes. All of this takes a massive toll on our workload, stress levels, and wellbeing. We are not being listened to when we say it’s too much. Our professional expertise is being ignored and we are feeling disrespected. 

“The number of principals saying they’re leaving in five years (73 per cent) is almost double the turnover rate noted in a recent Education Review Office report. 

“We’re already seeing educators head across the ditch to Australia because they simply can’t keep working the way they have been.”