Chris Hipkins
Education Spokesperson

11 June 2014

Hekia Parata’s latest fail: expert teachers

It will come as no surprise to parents that Education Minister Hekia Parata’s attempt to introduce her expert teachers policy without input from the school leaders has failed spectacularly, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“The primary school teachers union NZEI has labeled the $359 million programme ‘unacceptable and unworkable’. It also said the policy lacks direct benefit for children.

“The fact that teachers and principals are willing to turn down pay rises of up to $40,000 a year reflects how bad they believe this policy is.

“As the Principals Federation said today, the Government wouldn’t develop health policy without assistance from medical professionals. Why are the people teaching our kids not given the same respect?

“If the Minister had worked with teachers and principals to develop this programme, the outcome may have been very different.

“Hekia Parata has learnt nothing about working with the education sector since she became Minister at the beginning of this Parliamentary term.

“She has overseen epic failures including the class size debacle, the Christchurch schools mergers, charter schools and National Standards. And let’s not forget Novopay.

“The Minister clearly needs to go back to school to learn what consultation actually means,” Chris Hipkins says.

ENDS

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