A rose by any other name is still bulk funding

A rose by any other name is still bulk funding – NZSTA needs to step up

The New Zealand School Trustee Association (NZSTA) Executive has made no response to the Minister of Education’s proposed global funding initiative, a delay that is at the least disingenuous according to one school trustee.

Richard Green, in his tenth year as a trustee at Pt Chevalier Primary School, and fourth year at Pasadena Intermediate School, both in Auckland, said that when questioned, the NSTA had advised that members were yet to be consulted and therefore no response would be made.

“This is one of the most significant issues facing boards and our students, and the President and Executive of the NZSTA have a mandate to advocate on behalf of their constituents,” he said.

“Frankly it seems that at the moment the NZSTA are at the table on behalf of the ministry and Minister Parata, rather than the members or the children we advocate for. Neither government nor ministry are being challenged on key issues like this.”

“Our whole focus as boards is around student achievement. We are there to advocate for and ensure that our governance role is all about the children. The global funding will affect the ability of many schools, particularly those in lower social economic areas, to effectively deliver on the expectations of the Ministry. “

Green said the Secretary for Education, Katrina Casey, had informed him at the recent NZSTA conference that bulk funding and/or vouchers were definitely not being considered for the sector. However, he believes that the proposed global funding model contradicts this.

“The idea of a lump sum payment is no different from the bulk funding of the ‘90s,” he says.

Green, who is challenging incumbent NZSTA President for the role in the current NZSTA elections and is also a director of a traveling Shakespeare company says, “… apologies to the Bard, but a rose by any other name is still bulk funding.

“And even if the NZSTA doesn’t yet have a position, at the very least they should be keeping the thousands of paid up members informed. Parents are starting to ask questions of boards and the only information available is through the media.”

Green supports the NZEI and PPTA in their stand against global funding and is standing for President to challenge what he sees as complacency and cronyism.

“I signed up to my school board to ensure children, mine and others, are well supported in their educational outcomes, not to tick the boxes of governments, no matter what persuasion.

“It is time that we stood up and challenged the thinking of any government that seems focused on their agenda, at the expense of the quality education of our future generations”

Ends

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