Sue Moroney
Education spokesperson
6 September 2011
MEDIA STATEMENT

Ombudsmen shows National is out of touch on bullying

The Office of the Ombudsmen’s call for better bullying education shows just how out of touch National is on this issue, says Labour's Education Spokesperson, Sue Moroney.

“Today the Ombudsmen's Office called for anti-bullying programmes to be mandatory in all schools in the wake of its investigation into serious assaults at Hutt Valley High School.

“When National was asked to address the issue of bullying in schools it sent a letter on the issue to schools,” Sue Moroney said.

“Clearly the ombudsmen's recommendations on dealing with violence and bullying at school show a better understanding of the issues than the current Minister of Education Anne Tolley.

“The ombudsman is calling on the government to act, whereas the National Government's response was to duck for cover and put the blame on schools.

“A summit held by the Government on the issue of bullying appears to have gone nowhere and meanwhile, schools continue to deal with escalating violence.

“Anne Tolley and the National Government need to be supporting schools to deal with issues like bullying. But instead they are more focussed on their failure over National Standards to act.

“There is no excuse for Anne Tolley to have done such an appalling job tackling this issue,” Sue Moroney said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media