Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Shocking poverty stats show importance of breakfast bill

10 December 2012

Shocking poverty stats show importance of breakfast bill

Figures released today showing tens of thousands of children being hospitalised for poverty-related illnesses highlight the importance of addressing the problem at the root, PPTA president Robin Duff says.

A step towards this is Hone Harawira’s recently drawn Breakfast and Lunch Programmes in Schools education amendment bill. The bill, which seeks to introduce breakfast and lunch programmes in all decile 1 and 2 schools would be a real move to address the issue of child poverty and should be gradually rolled out across all deciles, Duff said.

“The minister of education’s constant mantra has been that we need to address the ‘one in five’ students not achieving their full potential at school. This one crucial way to address it – this is how we reach her “five out of five”.

The Children’s Social Health Monitor figures emphasise this connection, showing that one in five children were dependent on benefits that were often not enough to pay for proper food or clothing.

“One in five – where have we heard that figure before?”

Finland, which consistently comes out on top in international student achievement figures, has a strong focus on equity over choice and competition.

“This bill if is a first step in exactly that direction. PPTA strongly supports the concept of schools being used as a hub for the delivery of social services to families and young people and the expansion of state funded food programmes,” Duff said.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Students who are hungry are not able to learn well and, as the minister has often emphasised, schools need to remove barriers to learning.

“This is not about creating welfare dependency – young people are not responsible for their family background and compensating for this is an important role of the state.

“It is a vital responsibility for the government to take on and occurs successfully in many countries overseas.”

The bill is expected to have its first reading in parliament in February next year and Duff urged all parties to support it.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.