Hon Hekia Parata

National Party Spokeswoman for Education

Hon Nikki Kaye

National Party Associate Spokeswoman for Education

5 September 2014 Media Statement

National to build on strong progress in education

National will continue to build on its strong progress in education and invest in areas that will make the most difference for all New Zealand children if re-elected, says National’s Education Spokeswoman, Hekia Parata, and Associate Spokeswoman Nikki Kaye.

“As a result of National’s careful financial management, the economy is strengthening and we’ll be back in surplus this year. One of the benefits of a strong economy is that we can afford better quality health and education services for New Zealanders,” says Ms Parata.

“Under National, we have more kids starting their education earlier, staying longer and leaving better qualified,” she says.

“Since 2008, early childhood education participation rates, and the number of 18-year-olds with at least NCEA Level 2 have increased to the highest levels ever, particularly for Maori and Pasifika children and young people.

“We are working hard to ensure our education system is working for all Nēw Zealand children. We have made great progress, but there’s more to do.”

If elected, National will:

• Implement our $359 million initiative to improve teaching quality and leadership in schools;

• Support children with special needs by providing up to 800,000 more teacher aide hours a year, over four years;

• Support deaf and hearing-impaired children, their families and their schools by providing more sign language resources;

• Grow Asian languages in our schools through a new $10 million contestable fund;

• Continue to invest significantly in early childhood education to increase participation and make it more affordable for parents;

• Invest $350 million over four years to build up to nine new schools, and additional classrooms in the Auckland region;

• Continue to invest in providing modern, flexible and digitally connected classrooms.

“National’s targeted approach to education is ensuring that more and more of our young people are equipped with the skills and education they need to be successful in employment and life in the 21st Century,” says Ms Kaye.

National’s Schooling Policy is available at: http://ntnl.org.nz/1r59y7o

National’s 21st Century Schools Policy is available at: http://ntnl.org.nz/1nZo938

National’s Early Childhood Education Policy is available at:http://ntnl.org.nz/Z7NOBi

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