26 May 2015

Teachers turn backs on new professional body

The fact that just 56 per cent of nominations for the Education Council came from registered teachers shows the profession has turned its back on Hekia Parata’s new professional body, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“Answers to written questions from Labour show 81 of 145 people nominated hold full teaching registration while a further 12 have provisional or yet to be confirmed registration.

“This means just 0.08 per cent of more than 100,000 registered teachers in New Zealand want to be part of the Education Minister’s latest experiment.

“It’s not surprising the teaching community are turning their backs on the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand (EDUCANZ), given they have so little say in how it will be governed.

“This new body to replace the Teachers Council has been forced on the teaching profession. More than 90 per cent of submissions to the select committee considering its establishment were opposed.

“Teachers pay the price for EDUCANZ through their registration fees but have no ability to elect board members, who will be personally appointed by Hekia Parata.

“The National Government would never dare take this kind of heavy-handed approach with lawyers, doctors, accountants, engineers or even real estate agents. Why do they think they can do it to teachers?

“National has been waging a war on teachers for the past seven years. They’ve crushed the morale of the whole profession and it is children who will suffer as a result.

“One of Labour’s highest priorities will be re-establishing a relationship of trust and respect between the education community and government. Our kids deserve nothing less,” Chris Hipkins says.

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