Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Opposition grows to National Standards and Charter Schools
19 November 2012
Immediate Release
Opposition grows to National Standards and
Charter Schools
NZEI Te Riu
Roa has welcomed the unanimous support of delegates at this
weekend’s Labour Party Annual conference to remove
National Standards and charter schools.
“Along with other parties such as the Greens and New Zealand First we are seeing a strong and very public rejection of the Government’s current direction in education,” says NZEI Te Riu Roa president, Ian Leckie.
Delegates voted that a Labour-led Government would remove National Standards in reading, writing and maths.
“We know that National Standards do nothing to raise student achievement. Instead, they force schools to narrow the curriculum. Educators know that student-centre learning is more effective in raising achievement. That has been backed by the findings in the ERO’s Priority Learners’ report,” he says.
The Labour Party conference also pledged to end the charter schools experiment saying it would undermine our public education system and the delivery of a diverse and high-quality school system governed by local communities. Delegates also agreed to end public funding to all private schools.
“This overwhelming support among opposition parties in rejecting the Government’s business model for education based on competition, standardisation and test-based accountability is good news for learners, parents and teachers.
“Parents now have a real way of expressing opposition to the current policy and who to support in order to keep and develop our world-beating quality public education system.”
The conference also called for
compulsory Te Reo Maori for children up to age 15 and
expanding resourcing and professional learning and
development for teachers of Te Reo.
"Maori is an
official language of New Zealand and Maori culture is a key
part of our heritage so it is very important that all New
Zealand children have access to good quality teaching in Te
Reo," said Ian
Leckie.
ENDS
NZEI Te Riu Roa
New Zealand Educational Institute
NZEI Te Riu Roa members work in every community in New Zealand, leading and advocating for quality public education.
We are the 50,000 principals, teachers and support staff who work in primary, area and secondary schools as well as early childhood centres, special education and school advisory services. We come together as NZEI Te Riu Roa - New Zealand's largest education union, a Treaty based organisation and a powerful advocate for quality public education.
We have the most important job in New Zealand - educating for the future.
Braden Currie: Sets Sights On The Ironman North American Championships In Texas
Whanganui Regional Museum: Historic Wedding Dress Unveiled, A Piece Of Marton’s Heritage
Donovan Ryan: Local Runner Takes Out Frontrunner Christchurch Marathon
University of Auckland: Tributes Flow For Much Loved Pacific Leader Melegalenu’u Ah Sam
NZEI: Ministry Of Education Cuts Will Disproportionately Affect Pasifika
Day One Hapai te Haeata: Call To Action For Young Filmmakers Against The Backdrop Of Funding Cuts