Government initiatives to close the gaps between Maori and Non-Maori will fail because Labour refuses to implement national testing and assessment in schools according to ACT Maori Affairs and Education Spokesman Donna Awatere Huata.

"In this country we have the widest educational gap between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in the Western world.

Getting Maori children educated is the only way to ensure Maori development.

"You can not close the gaps between Maori and Non-Maori if you do not first know where the benchmarks are.

We need national testing and assessment in our schools to identify which children are falling through the cracks.

"The Government wants performance pay for state sector bosses, but refuses to apply the same accountability to teachers.

"I am excited that the Government intends to get tough on public service chief executives.

However, the only people that will benefit will be the consultants helping bosses to achieve their Maori development objectives,” said Donna Awatere Huata.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

© Scoop Media