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Kids at risk due to Government ECE push
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... -
Seclusion rooms still being used
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 delayed banning seclusion rooms till she was finally forced to
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... -
Hekia Parata needs to come clean on seclusion rooms
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... -
Kids need support, not turfing out
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... -
Children let down by MIA Minister
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... -
Online charter schools not the answer
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... -
Time to commit to learning support
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... -
Greens get behind unions on global funding
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... -
Feed and house Kiwi kids properly to fix education
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...