Helen Clark Out Of Touch

ACT Leader Rodney Hide today labelled Prime Minister Helen Clark out of touch with the problems that confront New Zealand, and said that making young people stay in school or training until they're 18 will do nothing to stop youth crime or address educational failure for young people.

"The kids terrorising our neighbourhoods at ages 13 and 14 aren't going to school now; making them stay in school until they're 18 will do nothing to address the problem," Mr Hide said.

"We need the laws that apply today enforced so these young thugs and their families get the message that truancy, tagging, vandalism and burglary are crimes that will be punished.

"Making young people stay on in schools that are failing them won't help them. We need to open schools up with more options and choices for parents.

"Integrated and Independent schools should be funded on the same basis as State schools. That would give opportunity to all, and make a real difference in education. That's the policy we need for the 21st Century in order to achieve our great country's full potential," Mr Hide said.

ENDS

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