Education Policy Summary: Children and Young People

Read the full Education Policy

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.