Education announcement underwhelming

National’s underwhelming announcement fails to address the real cause of poor educational performance, which is growing inequality, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“Kids don’t leave their lives at the school gate. When kids go to school hungry and one in five doesn’t even own two pairs of shoes, we can’t expect them to achieve.

“Labour has always believed in encouraging quality teaching.

“But just paying bonuses to a few teachers won’t turn around New Zealand’s recent dismal PISA results.

“It is great to see John Key’s last minute conversion to collaboration with teachers.

“But this is five years too late. National’s record in education rests on charter schools, larger class sizes, national standards and bigger subsidies for private schools.

“This speech is a six-page apology for Hekia Parata.

“On Monday I’ll be laying out a new direction for New Zealand.

“Education is one part of a bigger picture of widening gaps and opportunities slipping away from ordinary New Zealanders.

“Labour will be releasing our own policies to give our children a better start over the coming months.

“Labour will not rest until every New Zealand child receives a quality education,” David Cunliffe says.

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