Circular 2005/02: NZ Diploma in Specialist Subjects

Date: 11 February 2005
Circular Number: 2005/02
Category: Industrial Relations

NZ Diploma in Specialist Subjects (Secondary Teacher) and other qualifications matters

This circular is about: To provide an update about the NZ Diploma in Specialist Subjects (Secondary Teacher) and other qualifications matters.

The action required is: To note the contents of this circular and bring to the attention of affected G3 teachers.

It is intended for: Principals and affected G3 teachers in state and integrated secondary and area schools.

For further Information: Contact the Industrial Relations Unit by email: industrial.relations@minedu.govt.nz. All agreements are available on this website at www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/employmentagreements

Introduction

The NZ Diploma in Specialist Subjects (Secondary Teacher) was developed jointly by the Ministry of Education and the PPTA as a pathway for certain teachers for whom there was no degree pathway available at the time of their appointment, predominantly those in the technology areas, affected by the introduction of the new G3+ qualification group in the August 2002 settlement of the Secondary Teachers' Collective Agreement based on the recommendations of the Alternate Dispute Resolution Panel.

Following the PPTA executive's official endorsement in June 2004 of the Diploma and the package of support for teachers undertaking the Diploma, the Ministry has been working to secure an agreement with a tertiary provider to offer the Diploma.

The Ministry is currently in the advanced stages of negotiations with a major teacher education provider to offer the Diploma. In addition there are a number of internal processes that the provider needs to complete in order to be in a position to begin offering the Diploma, including obtaining CEAC approvals. The result of CEAC's decision should be known by the end of February 2005.

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Extension of enrolment criteria

Originally, in order to enrol in the Diploma, a G3 teacher must hold one of the following subject-based qualifications: 

• Home Economic Teachers Advanced Diploma; 
• Advanced Commerce Teachers Diploma; 
• A.C.I.S Exam (1980 Syllabus); 
• NZ Certificate Commerce (with effect from 21.1.85); 
• N.D.B.E. (National Diploma in Business Education); 
• NZ Certificate in Building, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Draughting; 
• Advanced Technical Teachers Certificate; 
• Higher Technical Teachers Certificate plus Advanced Trades Certificate; 
• Advanced Trades Certificate plus 6000 hours post-apprenticeship service; 
• Craftsman Registration in Plumbing, Gasfitting, Plumbing and Gasfitting, plus 6000 hours post-apprenticeship service; or 
• He Tohu Mātauranga Māori.

These qualifications are listed in Appendix A of the NZ Diploma in Specialist Subjects (Secondary Teacher) documentation and allow an exemption of 240 credits for Elective A.

The Ministry and the PPTA have agreed to extend this list to recognise the following G3-equivalent qualifications as providing access to the Diploma: 

• Advanced Craft Certificate. UK. 
• Advanced National Cert. in Technical Education 
• Aircraft maintenance engineer license 
• B.Ed (Design Tech.). UK. 
• B.Ed Craft Design and technology. UK. 
• Bachelor of Ed (Applied) (Weltec CIT) 
• Building & Construction ITO Cert. + 6000 hours 
• City and Guild Full Tech Cert Metal Trades. UK. 
• City and Guilds Advanced craft certificate 
• City and Guilds Craft Certificate 
• City and Guilds Full technological certificate 
• Diploma Home Science (CCoE) 
• Dip. Adv. Foundry Studies (Bolton Ins Tech) 
• Dip. Dom. Sci. (Glasgow & West Scotland Col.) 
• Dip. Domestic Science, (Durham University) 
• Full Technology Certificate. UK. 
• Graduate Diploma in Technology Education (Waikato Institute Tech) 
• Higher Diploma Ed (Comm) (University of Natal) 
• Higher National Cert in Mechanical Engineering. 
• Higher Technical Teachers Cert. plus ATC 
• Marine Engineer qualifications 3rd Class 
• NZ Cert and all technology subjects 
• Road Transport Engineers Certificate. UK. 
• Stage 4 NZCE Mechanical 
• Trade Certificate in Professional Cookery plus concurrent apprenticeship (ChCh Poly) 
• Workshop craft diploma (Weltec)

A teacher who holds a qualification listed above may enrol in the Diploma and will be given an exemption of 240 credits for Elective A.

The Ministry and the PPTA have also agreed that teachers holding a G2 qualification listed below and who previously gained G3 status through the 120-points scheme that ran from 1983 to 1990 may enrol in the Diploma and will be given an exemption of 200 credits for Elective A. The balance of 40 credits required under Elective A may be obtained at levels 5 or 6 from any of the fields, sub-fields and domains listed for Electives B, C and D. 

• Adult Commercial Course Qualification (or equivalent overseas course) 
• AIB 
• ATC (less than 6000 hours post-apprenticeship service) 
• Certificate in Fashion and Design (Aoraki Polytechnic) 
• Chamber of Commerce Commercial Education Certificate Advanced Bookkeeping - November 1967 
• Chamber of Commerce Commercial Education Certificate Senior Typewriting - November 1966 
• CIS Exam Post 1967 
• Commerce Teachers' Diploma 
• Commercial Teachers' Diploma - Teachers College Secondary Division (or equivalent overseas course) 
• Diploma Home Science 
• Diploma in Fashion and Textiles (Nelson Polytech) 
• Division Com (Commercial) Courses (or equivalent overseas course) 
• Division H (Home Economics/Homecraft) Courses (or equivalent overseas course) 
• Woodwork & Engineering Workshop Teachers' programme. (Division W. ACE) (or equivalent overseas course) 
• Higher Technical Teachers' Certificate 
• Home Economics Teachers' Diploma 
• Homecraft teachers diploma 
• Incorporated Phonographic Society (London) Typewriting Teacher's Diploma 
• Institute Phonographic Society Qualifications 
• National Diploma Hospitality management (Chch Poly/CIT) 
• NZCAD (CIT) 
• Public Service Examination for Shorthand Typists Advanced Grade 
• Public Service Examination for Shorthand Typists Senior Grade 
• Public Service Examination for Typists. 
• Shorthand teacher's Diploma (PEI.)

And the following to be determined on individual application based on course content: 

• Certificate in Town Planning
• ND Business Computing
• Diploma ICT Education

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Expressions of interest

The Ministry has set up a dedicated web page on which teachers can register an expression of interest in enrolling in the Diploma. This information will be used to assist the provider in their planning and preparation and to facilitate communication from the provider once calls for enrolments are underway.

The website address is: www.minedu.govt.nz/specialistdiploma

Registration of an expression of interest does not commit a teacher to enrolling in the Diploma. Similarly, teachers who do not register an expression of interest will still be able to enrol in the Diploma.

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"Wrap-around package"

In April 2004, following NZQA's approval of the Diploma, the Ministry proposed a comprehensive package of measures to assist teachers to study towards the Diploma. This was accepted by PPTA as part of their endorsement of the Diploma in June 2004. The original package comprised: 

• Up to two weeks' study leave for teachers enrolled in and studying towards the Diploma; 
• 100 study awards for teachers who require additional formal study to complete the Diploma - with 50 available in 2004, and 25 in 2005 and 2006; 
• Full-backdating of G3+ salary status for teachers who complete the Diploma by the end of 2005; 
• Limited backdating of G3+ salary status for teachers who complete the Diploma after this date; and 
• Full or half reimbursement of course fees associated with the Diploma.

Given the delays in the availability of the Diploma, there have been a number of revisions to the dates attached to specific elements so as not to penalise affected teachers. In addition the operation of specific aspects of the package has been clarified.

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Two weeks' study leave

Each school employing a teacher enrolled in the Diploma will be able to access up to two weeks (10 days) of relief costs to release the individual for the purposes of study or preparation for assessment towards the Diploma.

The school will be able to apply to the Ministry for reimbursement of relief costs up to the maximum 10 days per teacher enrolled in the Diploma.

Given that many teachers enrolled in the Diploma are likely to be in specific curriculum areas it is recommended that schools, in consultation with affected teachers, look to arrange the timing of such absences so as to minimise disruption to classes.

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Diploma Study Awards

The package included 100 study awards available to teachers who need to undertake additional formal study towards the Diploma. Given the delay in the roll out of the Diploma, it was agreed that 50 awards would be available over the twelve months from July 2005, a further 50 awards would be available over the twelve months from July 2006.

The awards will be allocated through the normal study award process. Further information on the application process and timeline will be available shortly as part of the study award round.

Teachers applying for a study award for Diploma-related study will need to have enrolled in the Diploma and have had an assessment as to the amount of formal study required to meet the Diploma requirements.

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Backdating of G3+ status

The original dates specified for completion of the Diploma in order to have G3+ status fully backdated were premised on the qualification being available in the 2004 academic year. In recognition of the delays the original deadlines have been pushed back.

Subject to meeting the continuous service requirements below, teachers completing the Diploma by the end of the 2006 without further study will be eligible to have their G3+ status backdated to the introduction of the G3+ qualification group in February 2003. This will include eligibility for the non-service salary increment effective on 5 February 2003 on the original terms that applied.

Teachers completing the Diploma after 2006 will be eligible to have their resulting G3+ status backdated to February of the previous year, again, subject to meeting the continuous service requirements below.

To be eligible for backdated G3+ status, the teacher, on completing the Diploma must: 

• be employed in a permanent, long-term relieving or other fixed-term (including supernumerary) teaching position in a state or state integrated school (providing that, in the case of a fixed term position, the tenure is for at least six weeks); and 
• have continuous service in a state or state-integrated school(s) since the date to which G3+ status is backdated to. Breaks in service of up to 6 weeks may be `bridged' providing service either side of the break is for continuous periods of six weeks or more.

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Fee reimbursement

Originally it was proposed that teachers completing the Diploma by the end of 2006 would be fully reimbursed for the Diploma fees. As part of the agreement with the tertiary provider, the Ministry will meet the cost of the fees for enrolling in the Diploma. Accordingly teachers will not be required to pay anything to enrol in the Diploma or face any costs related to assessment of recognised prior learning.

The offer of reimbursement of half the costs of course fees for additional study on completion of the Diploma still stands. Teachers who elect to undertake approved courses of formal study towards the Diploma will be able to apply to the Ministry to be reimbursed half of the course fees on production of receipts. No reimbursement will be made for other costs associated with these courses, including textbooks, materials or field work fees or general fees levied by the institution.

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Other qualification changes

A number of other changes to qualification groups have recently been agreed both alongside the Diploma and as part of the recent settlement of the Secondary Teachers' Collective Agreement.

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Diploma-based interpretation of G3+

As a result of the development of the Diploma as a pathway for G3 teachers to access the G3+ qualification group, the Ministry has proposed that the Diploma's framework is used as a basis of reinterpreting the requirements of G3+ for some groups of G3 teachers.

Accordingly the Ministry is prepared to reassess G3 teachers who, in addition to holding a G3 qualification listed in Appendix A of the Diploma specification documentation (reprinted on page 2 of this circular), hold a separate 120-credit level 7 qualification in a specialist curriculum subject.

An example would be a teacher who holds Advanced Trade Certificate with 6,000 hours post-apprenticeship service, a Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) and has also completed Massey University's Graduate Diploma in Technology Education (120 credits at level 7).

The Ministry has already processed the change of qualification group for those teachers who it is aware of as meeting the Diploma-based interpretation of G3+ based on the data from the 2002/03 qualifications verification exercise. Other G3 teachers who consider that they might also meet these criteria should contact the Ministry of Educations' Industrial Relations Unit (industrial.relations@minedu.govt.nz)

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Higher Diploma of Teaching

In the settlement of the Secondary Teachers' Collective Agreement (STCA) 2004-2007, it was agreed that the Higher Diploma of Teaching would be recognised as a G2 qualification from 5 August 2004. Teachers currently classified as G1 who hold a Higher Diploma of Teaching will be treated as if they had improved their qualifications from that date (5 August 2004) in accordance with the new provisions (outlined below)

Teachers who believe they qualify for a reclassification of their salary grade on the basis of this change should advise their payroll centre and provide a certified copy of their Higher Diploma of Teaching.

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Teachers improving their qualifications

The settlement of the STCA also changed the rules applying where a teacher improves his or her qualifications [clause 4.2.1(c) refers].

Where a teacher has been held at his or her qualification maximum for 12 months' service for salary purposes or more and subsequently improves his or her qualifications to a higher group s/he is entitled to progress one salary step towards the maximum step for his or her new qualification group.

The effective date of the improvement is the date of official notification from the provider of the completion of the qualification. [NB this is completion of the qualification itself, not the completion of a final course component such as a paper] This date will become the teacher's new anniversary date for salary progression purposes.

Where a teacher is not at their qualification group maximum, or is above his or her qualification maximum as a result of holding a permanent unit(s), there is no immediate salary impact if a teacher improves his or her qualifications, except where s/he is below the entry step for the new qualification group.

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Issued by:

Chris Collins
Senior Manager Industrial Relations

National Office
45 - 47 Pipitea Street, Thorndon
P O Box 1666, Wellington, New Zealand
Phone: 0-4-463 8000
Fax: 0-4-463 8001
www.minedu.govt.nz