Teaching jobs hard to fill in Cook Islands

The Cook Islands government says it is becoming increasingly difficult to fill teaching positions in the country as many locals are going for higher paying jobs.

Twenty two positions are currently being advertised including five jobs for principals and eight jobs at the main secondary school Tereora College.

There are also seven other vacancies at primary and secondary schools in the country.

A Director of Human Resources with the government Terry Utaga says an example of the problem is the field of accounting where potential applicants for an accounting teacher job prefer to stick to higher paying jobs outside teaching.

The government is offering incentives to fill teaching roles in the isolated northern group where there are three vacancies.

The government has advertised abroad for more teachers.