Prime Minister John Key says the National-ledGovernment will, if re-elected, create new positions for high-performing teachers and principals, who will be paid more to raise student achievement.
Prime Minister John Key made the announcement in his first major speech of election year, delivered at a West Auckland business club. You can read his speech in full here.
The policy would cost $359 million over the next four years. The money will be primarily spent on trying to improve the performance of teachers and principals, by paying more to those seen as excellent performers.
Mr Key said the Government wants to change the current incentives which encourage principals to work at larger schools where they get paid more.
Earlier, a leading international education advisor told Radio New Zealand's Nine to Noon programme that policies to improve the quality and opportunities of principals could make a huge difference to problem schools.
The special education advisor to the OECD, Andreas Schleicher, said New Zealand needs to get better at attracting the best principals and teachers to the tougher schools.