Primary and intermediate schools across the country say they're struggling with a dire shortage of teachers, according to a survey of the country's principals.
Fifty-two percent said they didn't have enough teachers this term and that number was even worse for low decile schools.
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Ninety percent said they were struggling to find relievers for sick staff and 81 percent said sick teachers had been forced to come to school.
Because of that lack of teachers, 46 percent of principals have been forced to change the curriculum and school programmes.
Teachers have been sounding the warning bells, but now they say it's hit crisis point.
"Just knowing that that's happening through the country on a daily basis, is horrific," said New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) President Lynda Stuart.
The teacher shortage is now affecting the learning of Kiwi kids. Schools can't find enough teachers and nearly all reported they were struggling to find relievers for sick staff.
"My biggest worry every morning is who's ringing today to say that they're sick, who can't make it in today and then coming in and somebody's blowing their nose and sneezing and coughing and going actually you shouldn't be here," said Kathleen O'Hare from Porirua's Maraeroa School.
She said on a number of occasions she's been forced to split up classes to cope and that has an impact on her students.
"We have a lot of children who are identified as having traumas, so this adds to their traumas: 'Who's going to be my teacher today?'"
Ms O'Hare is not the only one; principals across her area are struggling.
"Some of the principals are saying that they can't find anybody to fill their positions in their school," she said.
"One principal even said she thought she might have to go into the classroom for the last room - that's huge."
Teachers' union NZEI said it's working hard to get people into teaching and to keep them there, but it said there needs to be a significant pay jolt from the Government for anything to happen.
"Come and spend a day in our schools - come and spend half a day - and see what it's like," Ms O'Hare said.
The Ministry for Education says retention rates for primary school teachers remain high, but attracting new teachers and increasing supply is still a top priority.
Newshub.
