Acting chair Patrick Walsh said applicants who cannot meet the standard pathway can be considered through a discretionary pathway, which takes other factors into account, including teaching experience.<\/p>\n
But McVey said she has hit a roadblock after being told to study again, and feels her years in the profession have not been recognised.<\/p>\n
She already holds multiple other degrees from England and Scotland and has extensive experience in education, including special needs teaching.<\/p>\n
McVey estimates the further study could cost around $16,000 for a year, as well as requiring her to step away from paid work.<\/p>\n
She said going through the process has taken a personal toll.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, [it\u2019s] devastating personally… my self-esteem has taken a real knock because it makes me feel like I\u2019m not good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
McVey has written to Education Minister Erica Stanford<\/a>, frustrated by Government efforts to attract more people – including tradies <\/a>– into classrooms while she remains unable to gain full registration.<\/p>\n \u201cI hear you\u2019re calling out for teachers<\/a>. You\u2019re even trying to get overseas-trained teachers into New Zealand because you\u2019re so short<\/a>. Here I am, and no one\u2019s responding to any of my emails or anything.\u201d<\/p>\n The minister\u2019s office referred questions about McVey\u2019s experience to NZQA.<\/p>\n McVey also questions why her experience is being treated the same as those with no teaching background – as an LAT allows people without formal teaching qualifications to take classes in specific situations.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the moment I can teach, but so can someone who has no teaching experience.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re on the same pay grade, we\u2019re kind of all put in the same pot, which to me there\u2019s a real injustice in that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n NZQA said it cannot progress an overseas qualification evaluation without confirming the qualification\u2019s authenticity.<\/p>\n Deputy chief executive of quality assurance Emily Fabling said this ensures organisations such as the Teaching Council can have confidence an overseas-trained teacher\u2019s qualification was genuinely awarded and meets New Zealand requirements.<\/p>\n