Boards welcome moratorium on network reviews

Media Release

Boards welcome moratorium on network reviews

The New Zealand School Trustees Association is pleased the Minister of Education is acting on concerns from school communities in placing a five-year moratorium on further school reviews.

NZSTA President Chris France says boards of trustees will welcome today’s announcement of a five-year moratorium on Government initiated network reviews.

The NZSTA National Executive and STA Regional Chairpersons recently met with Trevor Mallard to discuss a number of concerns about reviews.

These concerns included the way the reviews were being conducted, the reliability of contributing information, such as projected migration, and the need to be founded on the basis of clearly identified opportunities for improved teaching and learning for students.

“It is good news that not only has the Minister listened to the concerns, but he has now acted decisively on them.”

Chris France says NZSTA is not philosophically opposed to school reviews, and particularly where school rolls are falling, or projected to fall, rather sharply.

“The issue is that boards themselves should be empowered to initiate and take control of any review decision, rather than imposition from the Government.

“NZSTA is pleased to see that board empowerment is back on the agenda.”

Chris France says the underlying tenet of community governance of schools is that the best decisions are those taken as close as possible to the point of impact. This is one of the fundamental drivers of Tomorrow’s Schools.

NZSTA supports the concept of promoting the potential benefits of school reviews to boards of trustees where roll decline is likely to lead to declining educational opportunities.

It also supports all savings being invested back into the review area as a financial incentive for boards to rationalise, where change is desirable for the best possible educational outcomes for students.

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