Teachers refuse to take active part in end-of-year prizegivings | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

Secondary teachers are refusing to take an active part in end-of-year prizegivings as part of their pay dispute.

The ongoing battle between secondary school teachers and the Ministry of Education has seen bans by the Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) on teachers attending meetings and events after 5pm and a refusal to take part in "call back days" in weekends or outside of school hours.

This means teachers can only attend after-hours school functions in a private capacity and not help out.

Otumoetai College principal Dave Randell said this meant he took "total responsibility" at last night's Creative Arts Awards ceremony.

Instead of staff presenting the awards, he did. The school's five student leaders read out names.

Mr Randell said his teachers sat in the audience as "visitors to the school."

"They are feeling very passionate and I have a torn loyalty. I need to and I will, support what they are advocating. It is imperative for the long-term future of education."

Mr Randell said not participating in the school's eight prizegivings, the second of which was held last night, was hard for teachers, who on one hand wanted collective bargaining settled on a reasonable level, and on the other, wanted to congratulate their students on stage.

Mr Randell said the school was coping as best it could.

Staff meetings had been changed from 8.15am to 8.30am as the PPTA had decided members were not to attend meetings before 8.30am.

Mr Randell has shortened form time, and taken five minutes off the first two periods of the school day.

A Year 9 meeting for parents next week has been moved forward, to begin at 3.30pm and finish at 5pm.

Mr Randell said if negotiations were not settled before the year's end it could have an impact on re-enrolments, planning, and senior camps early next year.

Likewise, children's learning conditions and class sizes were important, he said.

Teachers want a 4 per cent pay rise plus improved working conditions. They have been offered a half-per cent pay increase in the first year, a 1.9 per cent increase in the second year, a one-off payment of $1000 and an additional 3000 middle management allowances worth $1000 each.