The Green Party today announced a plan to prioritise improving inclusive education services so that every Kiwi kid gets to fully participate in school life. In government, the Green Party will increase education funding by $315 million over three years to build a more inclusive education system. The Green Party will: Properly fund a full-time Children’s Champion for every 400 children to coordinate support for children with high needs (currently called a Special Education Needs Co-ordinator), costing $70 million over...

The Green Party has reiterated its commitment to universal te reo Māori in schools, following National’s education announcement yesterday. “It’s good that National is open to Kiwi kids learning a second language and te reo Māori should be at the front of the queue. We want a more ambitious plan for te reo Māori in schools, and the Green Party will make that happen in government,” said Māori development spokesperson Marama Davidson. “Te reo Māori is one of the official...

This Government has refused to properly quantify need and has not funded additional learning support adequately, the Green Party said today. The Government has today announced that 30 more Communities of Learning will be able to access additional learning support services (previously described as special education). “There are thousands of children throughout New Zealand with extra learning needs, like dyslexia and autism, that will not be helped by today’s announcement,” Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said. “Currently there is...

The Government’s small injection of funding into Teach First NZ won’t address the workforce problems that are affecting New Zealand schools and students, the Green Party said today. “There are more kids coming through schools and lots of teachers leaving teaching. This Government hasn’t done the work required to ensure there are enough teachers to teach,” said Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty. “There needs to be a workforce plan for how our country will address looming teacher shortages, and...

Radical changes to the school funding system have not been thought through and will ultimately mean less funding for schools, the Green Party said today. The Government has announced that the school decile system will be scrapped and replaced by a new predictive index which targets individual children at risk. “What this will ultimately mean in the long run is less money for schools who are working with communities with fewer resources”, said Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty. “The...

Unaffordable housing is pushing teachers out of Auckland, with grim consequences for schools and students, the Green Party said today. Information released to the Green Party by the Ministry of Education shows the number of teachers leaving Auckland rose from 255 in 2015 to 390 in 2016, and principals and teachers are seriously concerned about the issue. “Teachers work hard and are so important to their communities, they need to be able to afford a home of their own in...

National’s inadequate response to the Select Committee Inquiry into Learning Support will see children on the autism spectrum, with dyslexia, and dyspraxia, continue to miss out on an education, the Green Party said today. Yesterday the Government released its official response to the recommendation put forward by the Green Party-initiated Inquiry into Learning Support for children on the autism spectrum, and with dyslexia and dyspraxia. “These kids shouldn't have to wait for the Government to grow a heart and a...

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...