Read the full Education Policy
Our education system should give everyone the best possible start on a life-long journey that happens inside and outside the classroom.
Public education needs to be free, and include every child; those with disabilities and special needs, children from diverse cultures and backgrounds, and tangata whenua.
We value our teachers and want to ensure that every child has a positive experience in education. We would increase funding to the sector to reflect these priorities.
We would hold a commission of enquiry into the New Zealand education system to assess how well we're doing, and remove National Standards.
Key Principles
- A free education system that fosters participation, sustainability, equality and peace.
- High quality teaching, learning environments, and curriculum that fosters peace in our communities.
Specific Policy Points
- Establish a Commission of Inquiry into the New Zealand education system.
- Increase the Operations Grant by 10%.
- Retain and support local and rural schools.
- Better and safer transport to rural schools.
- Maximum class sizes no greater than 20, and increased teacher-child ratios in early childhood services.
- Stop the sale of fizzy drinks, sugary drinks, lollies, and chippies on school property.
- Incorporate environmental education into the core curriculum at all levels.
- More funding for Maori language, immersion and bilingual programmes.
- Work towards te reo and tikanga Maori being available to all learners.
- Continue to oppose the bulk funding of teacher and support staff salaries.
- Enforce the law that prohibits schools from demanding fees.
- Evaluate the NCEA, in consultation with all stakeholders, and implement the PPTA recommendations from the Teachers Talk about the NCEA Report March 2005.
- Support pay parity for early childhood, primary and secondary educators.
- Improve resources community-based 'not for profit' early childhood services, including playcentre, kohanga reo, Pacific Island language nests.
- Make sure that Correspondence School learners can continue to have occasional face to face contact with their teachers.
- Ensure the Special Education Grant is adequate for the actual number of special needs children in each school.
- Meaningful, achievable Individual Education Plans for all children with special learning needs.
- Effective ESOL programmes for all migrant children in state schools.
- Ensure students have the right to not wear a uniform, without penalty from the school.
- Establish an independent tribunal to review the powers of principals and Boards of Trustees in regards to enrolments, suspensions and stand-downs.
