An extra $359million will be invested into New Zealand education over the next four years to lift the achievement of students.

Prime Minister John Key made the announcement in his first speech of the year when he also introduced new key roles in a hope of 'keeping good teachers in the classroom”.

A Tauranga teacher is questioning the National Government latest education announcement.

But not everyone is sold on the idea.

Aquinas College head of faculty arts Graeme Bridge says who wouldn't welcome having more money spent on education.

'But it's an election year and the promise to invest and to promote what we are doing for education will always tug on the heart strings of anyone remotely interested in what's best for our students.

'The date for the new roles coming in is set well beyond the election with only the consultation process of how this might come together happening this year.”

He says the new roles of executive principal, expert teacher, lead teacher and change principal – will require them to leave their own schools to go to other schools to advise others and mentor.

'Has National stopped to think on how this will impact on those schools? Taking teachers out of their classrooms, especially in secondary teaching, means they will have to make sure that they have set the work for their own classes to do while they are away.

'A double hit and not only that, they will be subject to appraisal on not only their own school but for the ones that they mentor, effectively becoming part time teachers and administrators in their own school.”

Graeme says in the past they have had an effective advisory group running for a number of years, but unfortunately due to funding cuts, that has been scaled back to a level so low as to be almost non-existent.

'If National wants an advisory group then why not call them that and fund them accordingly and have them available full time. But like so many of their other misfired education policies they want to keep the teachers in school so that the bulk of that cost is worn by the school.

'I know from my own experience that students do not welcome sharing their teacher for most of the week. Students don't like their teacher being away from their class time.”

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says the announcement is a step in the right direction of improving education in New Zealand.

He says the new roles aim to let teachers progress their career while remaining in the same classroom.

'This is recognition for excellent teachers and principals. It's about keeping good teachers in the classroom and sharing their expertise to ensure every child can go on and do what they want in life.

'Given the population size of the Western Bay of Plenty, we can expect to see executive principals, one for every 10 schools, these are the top principals with proven track records of improving a school's achievement standard.”

He says these principals will support existing principals and share their expertise on improving things.

'We're blessed to have schools in the Western Bay of Plenty that are already doing well.

'This [the new roles] will help our teachers deliver a higher standard of education and obtain a high level of achievement.”

The Government is still working through the details with the education sector about how the new approach will work, but the first roles are expected to be appointed in 2015.