Kelvin
DAVIS
Associate Education Spokesperson

21 November 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT
National’s education policy --- close down successful Maori programmes

National's education policy released today left out one important feature --- its apparent commitment to close down any successful Maori programme if the school principal and community criticise National Standards, says Labour's Associate Education spokesperson Kelvin Davis.

“After learning today of Moerewa School's outstanding NCEA results from last year, compared with both the national average and the alternative local school's results, I would have assumed that only a fool would close Moerewa's successful Year 11-13 classes,” Kelvin Davis said.

"Oops! That says it all!

“National’s decision to close down these classes proves that raising Maori achievement is not a priority for John Key and Anne Tolley,” Kelvin Davis said.

“The Moerewa community has had a plan for their children's education for nearly a decade.

“They are implementing that plan successfully, but an ignorant and foolish Minister has derailed the aspirations of a town and hapū,” Kelvin Davis said.

“Anne Tolley forgets they will be there long after she loses her portfolio.

“Surely the Government's role should be to remove barriers to Maori achievement and to support community involvement in education,” Kelvin Davis said.

“Anne Tolley has done the exact opposite.”

ENDS

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