Media Release

14th August 2001

Awatere-Huata Is Off The Wall - Donnelly

"Comments by ACT MP Donna Huata-Awatere, in light of the Select Committee Inquiry into Reading. are simply off-the-wall," said New Zealand First Education Spokesperson, Hon Brian Donnelly MP today.

Mr Donnelly chaired the sub-committee which carried out the review.

The evidence provided bore no relationship to the outrageous statements of ACT's Education Spokesperson who seems determined to put things into nice little boxes.

While the committee was concerned that the importance of phonics in a balanced reading programme was re-emphasised, it was equally concerned about the fragmentation of school support services, the policy vacuum for addressing the problem of transience and better vision testing procedures.

One principal commented to one sub-committee member that the bell curve explained poor reading performance. Donna Awatere-Huata suggests that this thinking was widespread amongst "teachers and principals" and then goes on to say that this is a vile, racist cop out.

"The simple fact is that Donna Awatere's exaggerations make her statements a nonsense," said Mr Donnelly.

ENDS

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