Border Exemptions Promised to 300 Foreign Teachers

On July 3rd, the NZ government announced a “new border exemption for 300 teachers”. It sounds like good news but what does it mean? Our immigration authorities seem to be speaking in riddles lately. To help foreign teachers understand this opportunity and what can be done to enhance job success, I made this article for you.

What does this new policy mean?

Question 1 – Is 300 teachers a lot?

Not at all. There are about 2,500 primary and secondary schools in New Zealand, with a total of about 800,000 students and 60,000 teachers.  Three hundred teachers is equal to half of one percent of the total teachers in NZ.  That isn’t enough to fill a big demand gap and it may not even keep pace with teacher demand growth by the time this policy is implemented.

Question 2 – When will the hiring begin?

We don’t know , but we are told that schools may apply in September for the right to offer these exempted roles: “This (exemption) will give principals and services additional support, especially for 2022 recruitment, and complement existing teacher supply initiatives.’ Applications under this exemption will open in September.” -from the article.

Question 3 – How can foreign teachers apply to these roles?

“Eligible early learning services, schools and kura can apply for one of 300 class border exceptions so they can recruit and bring overseas qualified teachers to New Zealand while borders remain closed. The Ministry of Education will work with the education sector to ensure that ECE services and schools with the greatest recruitment needs get priority. According to the Ministry, processes of recruitment remains with the early learning service or school.”

It looks to me that our ministry will grant quotas to schools and then schools will be free to hire.  Beyond that, I have more questions than answers.

• Will the schools need to hire according to some unspecified government process? 
• Or will schools manage their hiring quota as they see fit? (I assume this will be the case)
• How will foreign teachers know the difference between a standard teaching advertisement and one that complies with the 300 foreign teacher exemption? (The article doesn’t say, and I can’t find any answers yet)

Question 4 – Which schools can apply and when?

“Those who are in an early learning service or school with a teacher wanting to return (and had an employment agreement on 19 March 2020 that is still active), they can register their interest by emailing the Ministry at border.exceptions@education.govt.nz with their school name and the best contact person.”

For more details on this question, see the excellent video below from Arran Hunt, Partner and Immigration Lawyer at Stace Hammond, New Zealand

Question 5 – What do we know so far about the schedule of this mysterious 300 teacher program?

• March 2021 – NZ schools register interest in the program
• September 2021 – NZ schools apply
• End 2021 – Selected NZ schools are confirmed into the program
• And finally – Qualifying teachers can apply to roles from these schools, hopefully according to a well-considered process that is understandable to the applicant

There are many questions left unanswered. And yet there are also many ways to enhance your position as a candidate for teaching in New Zealand in 2022, either in this limited program or when the new border policy opens our market back up again.

For more details at this very preliminary stage, the below video is the best one that I have found online.

How does this policy help foreign teachers enter the NZ job market?

The quick answer is “not much”. Only a lucky few will get in with this program. Initially, this may sound disheartening but let’s look at your options. If your goal is NZ, why not use this opportunity to prepare now and “go for it”? What is the worst that could happen? You either get this rare exemption or you don’t. Either way, you are preparing for your future with actions that support your goals and you will probably have a positive state of mind while doing so. Every step towards your destiny is going to be experienced as progress, allowing more doors to open, more job discussions, more interviews arranged. From a practical sense, preparing in advance will bring material and emotional benefits that enhance your chances for success when the time comes.

Question 6 – What is some practical advice for foreign teachers who want to prepare for a teaching job in New Zealand?

1. Get the Teacher’s Certificate – https://teachingcouncil.nz/getting-certificated/for-overseas-trained-teachers/applying-for-a-provisional-practising-certificate/

“A practising certificate shows you have satisfactory recent teaching experience, have undertaken professional development and are fit to be a teacher.”

– NZ Teaching Council

2. Get Familiar with the Education Gazette – Excellent resource for finding work and bench-marking qualifications required.  https://gazette.education.govt.nz/vacancies/

3. Schedule your future application efforts to match local demand for teachers, usually beginning in advance of the term dates. https://www.enz.org/education-schools-new-zealand.html

4. Adjust your job-seeking targets based on demographic or regional preferences if that is important to you. You can begin with a list of schools in New Zealand. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_schools_in_New_Zealand

5. Experienced employment assistance – If you want experienced job-finding support, just send your CV to me at tate@employmentforimmigration.nz for helpful feedback in about a day. Include briefly your status of immigration and any goals you might have so far. My initial consultation has no cost.