24 Sep 2015

Teachers' union agrees to government pay plan

4:49 pm on 24 September 2015

Members of the primary teachers' union have agreed to include extra payments created by the government's flagship education scheme in their collective agreement.

The payments go to principals and teachers who lead improvements in groups of schools set up under the scheme.

The Educational Institute initially opposed the plan, but announced in July it had negotiated changes to the programme, which will cost $155 million a year once fully implemented.

Now its members have agreed that teachers working to improve education across schools will get an extra $16,000 a year, while those working as mentors within their own schools will get $8,000.

Principals leading groups of schools will be paid $25,000 and up to two more principals in each group will get $2500 extra.