Interest in training for the teaching profession continues to decline, according to recent data from the Ministry of Education.
The total number of people studying at least one education course dropped from 34,165 in 2015 to 27,510 in 2024. Most are enrolled at universities, while more than 7,000 individuals are studying at private training institutions.
Teacher education continues to be the most popular field of study; however, the number of students enrolled declined from 21,205 in 2015 to 18,490 in 2024. Similarly, enrolment in curriculum and education studies fell from 14,580 to 10,170 during the same timeframe.
In Canterbury, student enrolment in education courses has dropped to 964 in 2025, down from 1,281 four years earlier. Otago has experienced a comparable decline, with student numbers falling from 620 to 495 over the same timeframe.
“We know there’s a worsening shortage of secondary teachers here in New Zealand, and it’s really concerning to see those numbers decreasing,” Post Primary Teachers’ Association/Te Wehengarua (PPTA) president Chris Abercrombie said.
The Ministry of Education’s latest Teacher Demand and Supply Planning Projection warns that schools could face a shortfall of 1,250 teachers this year, driven by increased student numbers due to immigration and expanded classroom release time for teachers.
Last week at the National Secondary Education Leadership Summit, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced her commitment to making the teaching profession more appealing.
“One of the things that I know has been a real pain point is learning support,” Stanford said.
“And often I hear teachers and leaders say, ‘Look, minister, it’s not the pay; it’s the conditions, and it’s the fact that we’re under so much pressure because of learning support.”
However, Abercrombie emphasised that salary is a major factor in attracting more people to the profession. He said improving pay conditions and managing the workloads of new teachers must be the top priorities.
He also noted that there has been a cultural shift in how teachers are perceived.
“One of the things we often hear is the lack of respect from the … community, from politicians, and people are like, well, why do I want to go into a profession that has that?”
The teaching council expressed its dedication to tackling both current and future workforce challenges.
“We are working closely with the Ministry of Education, other education agencies, teacher unions and key stakeholders on a range of initiatives designed to address both current workforce challenges and also longer-term initiatives designed to lift the status of the teaching profession.”
“Some of the short-term initiatives include temporary policy changes to registration policies to make it easier for ex-teachers to return to teaching, either as full-time teachers or as relievers, and attracting more qualified, skilled and experienced overseas-trained teachers to come to New Zealand.”