Close Watch On Outcome Of Ministerial Inquiry

28th February 2012

The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says all schools and early childhood centres will be waiting with interest on the results of a ministerial inquiry into the employment of a convicted sex offender in education, to see if there are lessons to be learned.

The Education Minister has announced the inquiry after being told that a convicted sex offender had been arrested while working in education for allegedly breaching their conditions of release.

NZEI says it has not been informed about the case and has no details about the individual or what schools or communities they were working in.

NZEI President Ian Leckie says every step must be taken to ensure children are safe and for parents to have confidence in their schools and early childhood centres.

“There are robust processes in place around teacher registration and employment but it appears a serious breach of those may have occurred. We need to know how to prevent it happening again and tighten up any loopholes which may have been exposed. Hopefully that’s exactly what the ministerial review will deliver”.

NZEI looks forward to being involved in the inquiry and seeing any recommendations that come out of it.

ENDS

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