Education policy is not a game

Education policy is not a game

4 November, 2011

PPTA says education policy is not a sports fixture to be used as an opportunity for political point-scoring.

President Robin Duff isn't impressed with education policy announcements so far. He said politicians needed to prioritise consensus-based management of education policy and the funding of the public education system.

"I haven't heard any policy that shows a clear understanding of the issues. It's time for politicians to end the political ping-pong and get on with doing what's best for sound public education in New Zealand. PPTA looks forward to more detail from National on its proposed education policies and clear policy from Labour," he said.

Duff said asset sales could not be justified by directing $1 billion at upgrading schools' infrastructure.

"Politicians have let issues around school infrastructure drift for years and the current government shows no serious sign of changing that. Schools are one of our biggest assets - a coherent plan is needed for management of the network," said Duff.

Duff said PPTA had clear ideas on what it wanted to see in policy this election.
That included rational management of the secondary school network, sequenced and managed change around violence and bullying in secondary schools, smaller class sizes, better professional development support for secondary teachers and the restoration of night classes.

"These things will only be achieved when political parties learn to work together as has been effectively demonstrated in Finland," said Duff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3Z30CXVAjw

© Scoop Media