Last week teachers and students and all of the varied support workers went back to school for Term 2. Teachers are the backbone of our community and guardians of our future.

There is, however, a feeling of concern and uncertainty about their own futures as the Government announces their plans for EDUCANZ to replace the NZ Teachers Council.

No wonder morale is low. The proposal would see all appointments to EDUCANZ being made by the Minister of Education, with no teacher-elected representative on the body to regulate and register them.

Who will represent their interests? What about the Charter Schools which don't even require their teachers to be registered?

The proposal doesn't seem fair to me, and that's without taking into consideration the substantial increase in fees for our teachers to renew their registration every three years.

A regulatory body that oversees a professional group must be able to demonstrate detailed knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of those it registers.

It cannot be a truly independent statutory body if the members are all appointed by an MP.

The morale of our teachers has to be important to us, because we need them, our children need them; and if they are happy they will stay in their profession, knowing they are valued and trusted.

The first step towards achieving this is to allow them democratic control over their regulatory body.

If EDUCANZ is being created with the needs of our children, young people and public interest at heart, what our children and community need most are committed teachers who feel respected and secure in their schools.

They are the foundations of our education system; they must have solid ground beneath them.