Pacific bilingual immersion teaching allowance
The purpose of the Pacific bilingual immersion teaching allowance is to recognise the additional skills teachers must have to deliver teaching and learning through a Pacific language in a Pacific bilingual or immersion context in a school or kura.
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- Definition of Pacific bilingual and immersion education
- Eligibility criteria
- Primary principals
- Primary teachers
- Secondary teachers
- Area school principals
- Area school teachers
- Summary of collective agreements
Definition of Pacific bilingual and immersion education
- Bilingual education means teaching in 2 languages. Both languages are used as a medium of instruction and to deliver curriculum content.
- Pacific bilingual and immersion education uses a Pacific language for at least 51% of the class time to access curriculum content.
- There are 2 levels of Pacific language bilingual or immersion education.
- To determine the level, we measure the proportion of time a class is taught in 2 languages through school roll returns.
- A bilingual or immersion unit is a class/programme at a school that provides bilingual or immersion education.
School roll return guidelines – Education Counts(external link)
Levels of Pacific language bilingual or immersion
Level 1: Pacific immersion education
- Level 1 immersion education uses Pacific language for instruction 81% to 100% of the time.
- This is referred to as Level 1 on the language immersion programme scale.
Level 2 Pacific bilingual education
- Level 2 bilingual education uses a Pacific language for instruction 51% to 80% of the time.
- This is referred to as Level 2 on the language immersion programme scale.
Eligibility criteria
The minimum requirements to be eligible for a Pacific bilingual immersion teaching allowance (PBITA) are outlined in each of the collective agreements.
These are:
- have the language proficiency necessary to teach the curriculum for the period required by the Pacific bilingual or language immersion level in which you are engaged, and
- be currently teaching in a Pacific bilingual or immersion unit/programme/class as defined in the school roll returns guidelines.
School roll return guidelines – Education Counts(external link)
Additional specific requirements are set out in the relevant collective agreements.
Primary principals
NZEI Te Riu Roa
From Term 1 2024 you will be eligible for a base allowance of $4,000 per annum if you meet the minimum requirements (as above).
An additional service allowance will be payable to those eligible following 3 years' and 6 years' service teaching in a bilingual or immersion setting.
Service for the payment at Level 2 includes any teaching service at Pacific or bilingual immersion Level 1 or 2. Service for the payment at Level 1 only includes teaching service at Level 1.
A principal can only receive the allowance for one level at a time.
Schools can apply for this allowance using EdPay, alternatively the EP37p form.
Form EP37P – Education Payroll(external link)
Clause 6.2.10 Primary Principals’ (NZEI) Collective Agreement
Primary Principals' Collective Bargaining Union (PPCBU)
From Term 2 2023 you will be eligible for a base allowance of $4,000 per annum if you meet the minimum eligibility requirements.
An additional service allowance will be payable to those eligible following 3 years' and 6 years’ service teaching in a bilingual or immersion setting.
Service for the payment at Level 2 includes any teaching service at Pacific or bilingual immersion Level 1 or 2. Service for the payment at Level 1 only includes teaching service at Level 1.
A principal can only receive the allowance for one level at a time.
Schools can apply for this allowance using EdPay form EP37P.
Form EP37P – Education Payroll(external link)
Clause 6.2.7 Primary Principals’ (PPCBU) Collective Agreement
Primary teachers
From 28 January 2024, you will be eligible for a base allowance of $4,000 per annum if you meet the minimum eligibility requirements.
An additional service allowance is payable to those eligible following 3 years' and 6 years' service teaching in a bilingual or immersion setting. Service for the payment at Level 2 includes any teaching service at Pacific bilingual or immersion Level 1 or 2. Service for the payment at Level 1 only includes teaching service at Level 1.
The allowance will be pro-rated for part-time teachers.
A teacher can only receive the allowance for one level at a time.
Schools can apply for this allowance using EdPay form EP37P.
Form EP37P – Education Payroll(external link)
Clause 3.36 Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Secondary teachers
From 28 January 2024, you will be eligible for a band 1 allowance of $4,000 per annum if you meet the minimum eligibility requirements and have up to 3 years’ service.
- A band 2 allowance is payable to those eligible following 3 years' service.
- A band 3 allowance is payable after 6 years’ service.
Service for the payment at Level 2 includes any teaching service at Pacific bilingual or immersion Level 1 or 2. Service for the payment at Level 1 only includes teaching service at Level 1.
The allowance will be pro-rated for part-time teachers.
A teacher can only receive the allowance for one level at a time.
Schools can apply for this allowance using EdPay form EP37P.
Form EP37P – Education Payroll(external link)
Clause 4.25 Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Area school principals
From 28 January 2024, you will be eligible for a base allowance of $4,000 per annum if you meet the minimum eligibility requirements.
An additional service allowance is payable to those eligible following 3 years' and then 6 years’ service teaching in a bilingual or immersion setting.
Service for the payment at Level 2 includes any teaching service at Pacific or bilingual immersion Level 1 or 2. Service for the payment at Level 1 only includes teaching service at Level 1.
A principal can only receive the allowance for one level at a time.
Schools can apply for this allowance using EdPay form EP37P.
Form EP37P – Education Payroll(external link)
Clause 3.11 Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement
Area school teachers
From 28 January 2024, you will be eligible for a band 1 allowance of $4,000 per annum if you meet the minimum eligibility requirements and have up to 3 years’ service.
- A band 2 allowance is payable if eligible after 3 years' service.
- A band 3 allowance is payable if eligible after 6 years’ service.
Service must be teaching in a bilingual or immersion setting.
A teacher can only receive the allowance for one level at a time. The allowance will be pro-rated for part-time teachers.
Schools can apply for this allowance using EdPay form EP37P.
Form EP37P – Education Payroll(external link)
Clause 3.35 Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Summary of collective agreements
All collective agreements:
- have minimum requirements for the allowance
- do not require a minimum service requirement
- recognise additional service after 3 years and 6 years
- have a clause related to the PBITA.
All collective agreements also have the same allowance scales:
- Level 1 base allowance: $4000
- after 3 years’ service: $6000
- after 6 years’ service: $8000
- Level 2 base allowance: $4000
- after 3 years’ service: $5000
- after 6 years’ service: $6000.
Clauses in collective agreements with PBITA allowances
Clause 6.2.10 Primary Principals’ (NZEI) Collective Agreement
Clause 6.2.7 Primary Principals’ (PPCBU) Collective Agreement
Clause 3.36 Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Clause 4.25 Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Clause 3.11 Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement
Clause 3.35 Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement
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