Rising house prices are hitting teachers hard in the pocket, the Green Party said today. New analysis by the Green Party shows that houses are “severely unaffordable” for many teachers in all but two regions of New Zealand (see table below). Most teachers are returning to the classroom this week following the summer break. “National’s housing crisis is impacting many New Zealanders, including those who play a vital role in keeping our communities running, like teachers,” said Green Party Co-leader...

The way our education system treats children with high learning needs requires an urgent overhaul, the Green Party said today. It’s been revealed that another special school, Sara Cohen School in Dunedin, is being investigated for the alleged mistreatment of its pupils. “Special schools, which are for our most high-need children, should have professionally trained and experienced staff, and the funding to match. Unfortunately, once again, this has proven not to be the case,” said Green Party education spokesperson Catherine...

Establishing a single point of access for schools and families to obtain learning support needs is a good idea, but need to be matched with increased funding for services, the Green Party said today. A new service delivery model, which would see an 0800 number, email, or online tool set up, was announced today by Education Minister Hekia Parata. The new model is limited to a pilot run for the Waiariki/Bay of Plenty region. “Far too many kids miss out...

An Education Select Committee inquiry report into learning needs for children with significant challenges has found large holes in the current system, but does not go far enough to address them, the Green Party said today.

Hypertargeting of students, through “a risk index”, in a new education funding review has missed the point that the whole public education system needs more funding, the Green Party said today.   The education funding review decisions announced today by Minister of Education Hekia Parata will see 19 indicators used to make a risk index for each student, and the controversial bulk funding proposal has been dropped.   “Schools desperately need extra money, but this hyper targeting is going to...

A new survey of the early childhood education (ECE) sector shows centres struggling to make ends meet under a six-year Government funding freeze, the Green Party said today. The New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa survey of ECE centres shows that 87 percent of respondents have experienced shortfalls since the Government first froze per-child funding six years ago. The Government has pushed for 98 percent of children to be participating in ECE before starting school as a Better...

Two special schools, and an unknown number of mainstream schools, are continuing to use seclusion rooms, despite the Education Minister’s recent moves to outlaw them, the Green Party said today. The Green Party has obtained answers to written Parliamentary questions which show that two special schools are continuing to use seclusion rooms. “For the welfare of the children at those schools, I am calling on Hekia Parata to immediately decommission all seclusion rooms,” Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said...

Minister of Education Hekia Parata would have known about seclusion rooms for more than a year and did nothing to stop their use until she was publicly shamed into doing so, the Green Party said today. The Minister has today proposed to prohibit seclusion in schools and early childhood education services. “It’s a bit rich for Hekia Parata to now claim credit for making seclusion rooms illegal, when she could have taken this action more than a year ago when...

Education Minister Hekia Parata needs to come clean with Kiwi parents about exactly how many state schools are using seclusion rooms, if any, and how long she’s known about them, the Green Party said today While responding to Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty during Question Time today, the Minister admitted that eight special schools are currently using seclusion rooms, and that the Ministry is currently surveying all state schools to see how many are also currently using them. “Hekia Parata...

The Green Party supports the call for the Government to set up an independent tribunal that families can use to appeal schools' disciplinary actions. Just a week after reports that kids with learning support needs have been locked in a seclusion room, YouthLaw has today released a report showing that a large number of New Zealand kids are being pressured out of school in a way which is inconsistent with the Education Act. “Hekia Parata’s hands-off attitude is letting kids...