There's relief in the education sector as Erica Stanford moves on teacher shortages.

The Immigration and Education Minister is changing immigration rules to fast-track primary teacher residency.

Annual forecasts predict schools will be short 1250 teachers this year, upturning an original projection of a surplus approaching the same figure - about 1061.

Auckland Primary Principals Association President, Kyle Brewerton, says the Ministry believed there was a surplus for too long.

"It took the current Minister to actually lean on the Ministry and say - hang on, this doesn't make sense, because I'm hearing this and you're telling me this, so what's really going on? And now we have the full answer."

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• Overseas primary teachers get the 'green light' with new residency rules