Don’t all children deserve the best teacher?

19 April, 2013

Don’t all children deserve the best teacher?

The Maori Party leadership’s disquiet of putting unqualified people in front of our most vulnerable children is well-founded.

“The Government and ACT party have said that part of their attraction to charter schools is that they will be able to employ people who are not qualified or registered teachers,” said NZEI Te Riu Roa President Judith Nowotarski.

"But the evidence is clear internationally that having a qualified and registered teaching workforce directly correlates with high quality teaching and learning.

“We share the Maori Party's concern about this aspect of charter schools. If the aim of these schools is to help the “tail’’ of children who are not achieving at the rate they should, then the policy of not requiring qualified teachers is wrong-headed.

"There are already good structures in place to help our tamariki and Pasifika children who are struggling; one of these is the requirement for ongoing professional development for teachers so that they constantly reflect on how best to meet the needs of children with diverse learning needs.

“The worst possible thing that you could do here is put an unqualified teacher in front of these children. Don’t all our children deserve the best teacher - especially those who are struggling?”

Mrs Nowotarski says that the risks of charter schools are just too great and the legislation should not be passed.

ENDS

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