The Green Party supports an inclusive, accessible, and democratic education system that enables lifelong learning, empowering people to develop the skills and knowledge to participate effectively in a changing world. Learners can access quality free education that responds to the diverse needs and aspirations of people and their communities. The education system will honour te Tiriti o Waitangi, prioritising te ao Māori, mātauranga Māori, and cultural competence of all staff. Connections between education organisations and health and social services agencies will be strengthened, ensuring that education is accessible to all.
Vision
Lifelong learning for all empowers people to benefit humanity and the planet.
Values and Principles
Aotearoa New Zealand's education system must be consistent with the following values and principles:
- Honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi - Educational systems must support Māori voice and agency in governance and decision making. Education must protect and strengthen access to te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and the history of Aotearoa.
- Manaakitanga - Educational systems must be safe, inclusive, and nourishing for everyone in them to thrive.
- Ōritetanga - Educational systems, policies, and practices need to equitably support all learners to enable full and lifelong participation in learning.
- Kotahitanga - Education must support holistic learning and development, connected to communities and local environments.
- Rangatiratanga - Education must be shaped by communities to meet their educational and learning needs.
- Whakamana tāngata - Education must build skills, confidence and awareness to meet future global challenges. It must nurture connection and care for each other and the natural world.
Strategic Priorities
The Green Party’s strategic goals include:
“...inclusive education will be available to all.”
Actions in this policy that will help achieve this include:
- Embedding a Te Tiriti centric education system that empowers learners to succeed in all learning environments. (1.1.3)
- Investing in education that builds understanding and appreciation for diverse cultures, including ethnic, religious, rainbow, and disability communities. (2.1.2)
- Providing fully funded free ECE for all pre-school aged children. (2.5.1)
- Providing fees-free tertiary education and writing off all student loan debt. (2.7.1 & 2.7.3)
- Establishing a single agency to coordinate and resource specialist supports for learners with health and disability support needs. (3.8.3)
- Developing a more representative, democratic, and transparent governance model for all education organisations, where staff, students, communities, unions, and Māori representatives work together on governing bodies. (3.10.3)
Connected Policies
Children and Youth must be supported to thrive at home and at school. This includes having access to healthy Food at school and learning in healthy environments (see our Housing and Sustainable Communities Policy). Access to Education is a Human Right, and all learners should be able to experience inclusive education with appropriate support - see our Kaupapa Māori, Tagata Moana, Disability, Health, and Rainbow Policies, for example. Inclusivity and accessibility may involve use of Digital technology. This policy is also highly connected to our Workforce, Research, Science, and Technology, and Media, Arts, and Cultural Heritage Policies.
