The Minister of Education could end the seclusion of school children in small, dark rooms today if she wanted to, rather than leaving the welfare of those children in the hands of an Ombudsman’s review, the Green Party said today. The Ombudsman and Children’s Commissioner today announced they will be investigating the use of seclusion rooms in schools, following reports that more than two schools have used them. “The hands-off attitude displayed by Hekia Parata is letting children be locked...

Government plans to open up the Correspondence School Te Kura to corporate entities or charter schools could have terrible consequences for the quality of education that children receive, the Green Party said today. National’s Education (Update) Amendment Bill introduced today will change how education is delivered in Aotearoa. This includes creating Communities of Online Learning (COOL) that will threaten the existence of the Correspondence School Te Kura. “Online charter schools that use public money for private profit don’t provide the...

Proposals to change special education funding to learning support needs to ensure access, equity, and sustained support, the Green Party said today. Green MP Catherine Delahunty initiated a Select Committee Inquiry into dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism spectrum disorders in schools in New Zealand that is due to report back in the next few weeks. The Inquiry has heard from hundreds of children and families about how hard it is to currently access genuine inclusion and resources for the children that...

A campaign launched by education unions today against global funding should make the Government carefully consider its next moves on education funding, the Green Party said today. “Make no mistake, global funding is bad old bulk funding in disguise,” Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said today. “The Government’s global funding model will force schools to make impossibly tough choices, such as allowing larger class sizes or paying the power bill. “Teachers and educators are on the frontline of our...

Educational achievement will not improve until the Government prioritises feeding, housing and looking after our children properly, the Green Party has said today. Research reported today has uncovered a consistent achievement gap of an average of two years schooling between children in lower and higher decile primary schools. “The reason for the gap in achievement between low and high decile schools is the inequality that this National Government has fostered in New Zealand,” Green Party Education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said...

Increases in class sizes look to be on the cards, after Education Minister Hekia Parata can't guarantee her proposed education funding model will result in no increase in class sizes, the Green Party said. "It doesn't seem to trouble the Minister if her proposal results in bigger classes, but she is ignoring that New Zealand parents see class sizes as vital for their child's education," Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said today. Appearing on The Nation this morning Education...

The Government must cancel plans to open seven more charter schools, as serious concerns are raised about the results of those schools already opened, the Green Party said today. Most of the annual reports of the Partnership Schools already opened have been published today. The reports have been criticised for not providing information that’s comparable with state schools, including roll-based results for NCEA. Some schools had unacceptably high rates of suspensions and expulsions, and about half failed to meet all...

Parents up and down the country will have to pay more for their child’s education, following the National Government’s surprise budget move to freeze funding for schools’ operational grants, the Green Party said today. “It is shocking that National is freezing funding for schools. Education should be at the top of any Government’s agenda,” said Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.   “After the class sizes back-down a few years ago, it is surprising to see the Government again attacking school...

Ploughing more money into the failed charter school programme is a mistake, the Green Party said today. The Government today announced funding in the 2016 Budget for seven more charter schools to open in 2017 and 2018, and for a new organisation to support charter school sponsors. “It defies belief that the Government would plough ahead with more charter schools when the programme has been so plagued by problems,” Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said today. “No one from...

Information obtained by the Green Party today shows the Education Minister has sought no data or proof that her Government’s drive to increase the numbers of children in Early Childhood Education (ECE) is leaving those children better off. A Green Party parliamentary question shows that school readiness of children is not being monitored, despite large changes in early childhood education.  The National Government has set a Better Public Service target of 98 percent participation rate by 2016 in Early Childhood...