2 July 2002

Helen Clark has sunk to new levels by having a school open during the holidays so she could visit it with a camera crew, National's Education Spokesperson Nick Smith said today.

"Konini School in Bluff opened yesterday, the first day of the holidays, so Helen Clark could campaign with an entourage of media.

"Helen Clark won't settle the teachers pay dispute to get teachers back in front of 57,000 kids missing out on NCEA level one, but when she's on the campaign trail nothing will keep kids out of classrooms, not even the holidays.

"We have a Prime Minister who has ignored the pleas of parents to ensure their children get some qualification this year. To cynically turn around and have a school open during the holidays just so she can campaign is a huge slap in the face to those parents.

"This is just another example of the Prime Minister pretending.

"We don't need schools back in holiday time for photo opportunities for the Prime Minister. We do need schools back in term time so 57,000 fifth formers can get a qualification at the end of the year," Nick Smith said.

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