Help Us Do Our Job – NZSTA

Trustees can’t do their job properly unless the Government gives them the support they need, says New Zealand School Trustees Association President Chris France.

His comments mark the opening of NZSTA’s annual conference being held in Invercargill from July 5 to 8. This year’s conference is being attended by about 400 delegates from around the country and its theme is 2001 An Education Odyssey.

Chris France says the introduction of the Amendment Bill 2 signals a new era for trustees who will now play an even bigger part in enhancing their school’s ability to improve learning outcomes.

However, Chris France says trustees need more support to carry out the changing role of governance.

“We don’t want a pay increase. We don’t want less contact time, or more time to carry out administration tasks. What we want is simple. We want support and help with the tools and knowledge to govern better so that we can play our part in offering that “education of a kind for which he is best fitted, and to the fullest extent of his powers”.

“In many ways governance has by far the greatest stake in ensuring improved educational outcomes for our children because they are our children.”

Chris France says NZSTA has no problem with trustees playing a role in improving learning outcomes, however professional development is needed.

“It makes perfect sense that we are all working towards this goal. It is no good telling trustees they have to fill this role and then simply expecting them to do it. What we want to know from the Government is how it is going to support trustees to fulfil this goal.

“Let’s be clear we take it on willingly because it is our own children that benefit from improved education but we do need help to achieve this.”

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