NZPF figures misleading says trustee head

Media release

NZPF figures misleading says trustee head

The New Zealand School Trustees Association says the New Zealand Principals Federation is continuing to muddy the waters regarding National Standards with its latest incorrect and misleading claim.

NZPF is now claiming that according to a recent federation survey 49% of boards of trustees have serious misgivings or some disquiet about National Standards.

President Lorraine Kerr says that she might be able to accept a claim of 49% of those actual boards that responded to the survey. “But for NZPF to imply 49% of boards generally, and without that qualification, is mischievous at best, and dishonest at worst.”

The stated response rate of the survey was around 600 NZPF members. Given that NZPF are principals and not boards of trustees then it seems very likely that the response rate from boards/board chairs will be significantly less than the 49% claimed. If that is the case, then the truth of the matter is likely to be significantly less than NZPF is claiming.

“I would be very interested to know what information the NZPF provided to the boards as in the past they have been less than clear about what their issues are and how many actual board chairs completed the board part of the survey, as opposed to principals completing the surveys on behalf of boards,” Lorraine Kerr says.

“Perhaps the President of NZPF could provide the full breakdown of the actual figures, including the actual number of board chairs responding to the survey, so that we can all see the actual situation?”

Lorraine Kerr says NZSTA is looking forward to discussing these matters further with NZPF, NZEI and the Ministry of Education at our next scheduled meeting later this month.

“In the meantime we welcome the government’s promise to provide full information including their brochure to boards and parents on the benefits of the National Standards so that they can have a balanced view.”

ENDS

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