14 August 2013
Immediate Release

NZEI Te Riu Roa reiterates Living Wage call following social survey

Stress and poverty caused by low income is severely damaging the education of thousands of New Zealand children.

NZEI National President Judith Nowotarski says she’s appalled that the New Zealand General Social Survey: 2012 released yesterday has revealed that nearly half of respondents say they are struggling with low wages and incomes.

“Low income and poverty are having a profound effect on the education of thousands of children in this country.

“Our growing inequity is one of the leading causes of educational underachievement. This is something teachers and school support staff see every day.”

“These children arrive at school severely disadvantaged and not ready to learn.

“Once again, we would call on the Government to take a close look at the effect its policies are having on children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“As a first step towards fairness and equity, we ask all employers, including the Government, to listen to the call for a living wage.

“This would help give many more children a better chance to succeed in education.”

ENDS

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