FAQS FOR TEACHERS

• I am a Montessori trained teacher. Will I be able to get work in New Zealand?
• Montessori schools in New Zealand often have positions available for Montessori trained teachers. Historically, many New Zealand Montessori schools have employed staff who have graduated from overseas Montessori training colleges. A diversity of Montessori qualifications has been acceptable in New Zealand schools. Individual schools will make their own assessment of the suitability of the Montessori qualification you hold. Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand does not assess qualifications. The New Zealand Ministry of Education have requirements for teaching qualifications that may affect your ability to get a job or get New Zealand residency.
• What are the teaching qualification requirements in New Zealand?
• The New Zealand Ministry of Education requirements for teaching qualifications are:
• MONTESSORI EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS (0-3 AND 3-6 YEARS)
  
  The New Zealand Ministry of Education want to improve the level of qualifications held by people working in early childhood centres, including Montessori preschools.
  
  From 31 December 2007 the 50% teacher registration requirement came into effect. This means teacher-led, centre-based ECE services will need 50% of the total “regulated staff” to hold an ECE teaching qualification recognised by the New Zealand Teachers Council for the purposes of teacher registration. A centre is required to meet this 50% teacher registration requirement under the licensing requirements for early childhood education services and government funding for the centres is tied to the number of qualified and registered staff. By 2010, 80% of teaching staff in teacher-led services will be required to be registered teachers and by 2012, 100% of teaching staff in teacher-led services will be required to be registered teachers.
  
  Montessori diplomas are not considered equivalent to a New Zealand Diploma of Teaching, which is a three-year programme. People holding Montessori diplomas are usually able to obtain work permits to teach for a specified time in a New Zealand Montessori school. However Montessori diplomas are not recognised for New Zealand teacher registration, but may sometimes be recognised for NZ residency, depending on immigration quotas!

• MONTESSORI PRIMARY TEACHERS (6-12 YEARS)
  
  All primary teachers in New Zealand are required by law to be registered with the New Zealand Teachers Council. Most Montessori primary classes catering for the 6-12 year age group are part of New Zealand state primary schools. In order to receive adequate teacher funding Montessori primary classes usually need people with teacher training qualifications, in addition to Montessori training. Additional qualifications may be recognised by New Zealand government departments for teacher registration and residency purposes. If you do not have additional teacher training or degrees then you may be able to be employed, under a “limited authority” to teach, but the government will fund less of the salary. Full teacher registration is required for New Zealand permanent residency. The New Zealand Teachers Council is usually able to appraise teaching qualifications from Canada, Ireland, UK, Australia and South Africa. Qualifications from other countries may need to be assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

HELPFUL WEBSITES

New Zealand Ministry of Education www.minedu.govt.nz
New Zealand Teachers Council www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz
New Zealand Qualifications Authority www.nzqa.govt.nz
Teach New Zealand www.teachnz.govt.nz
New Zealand Immigration www.immigration.govt.nz