Katherine Rich MP
National Party Education Spokeswoman

9 May 2007

School days disappear by stealth

The Education Minister needs to explain why more than three weeks have been swiped from the primary school calendar, says National Party Education spokeswoman Katherine Rich.

Schools measure the time during the year when they are open for instruction in 'half-days' and these have been slashed by 32 from this year through to 2010.

"This will create even more headaches for every working parent who struggles to cover childcare arrangements during holidays.

"In 2004, the Education Gazette published official targets for New Zealand primary schools, specifying that there would be 394 half days in 2008 and 392 for 2009. Primary schools have traditionally had this number of days for many, many years.

"The Ministry, without any transparent consultation, has arbitrarily sliced an average of 8 half days each year through to 2010.

"There has not been a whisper about this change - just a sneaky addition to the ministry's website.

"Not only does this mean reduced learning time for our kids, it adds to the already difficult task of parents who try to strike a balance between working and spending time with their kids during the holidays."

ENDS

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