September 4 2013

Government’s obsession kills Learning Media

The Government’s obsession with competitive contracts has killed off a New Zealand educational treasure the organisation that has published the school journal for the past 79 years, the Green Party said today.

The Government today announced that the operations of the government-owned Learning Media would wind down, and said decisions on what will happen to the company’s current assets, including its educational resources, will be made as part of the wind down process.

“This is a tragedy for New Zealand education. This is a tragedy for generations of Kiwis who have grown up reading the school journal,” said Green Party associate education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.

“This is a tragedy for the writers and educationists, like Margaret Mahy and Witi Ihimaera who have worked to make the school journal and Learning Media an institution that is famous the world over.

“It is also a tragedy for future generations for whom the new school journal will be something much less than it was, disconnected from its rich history.

“Learning Media is a unique collection of talented kiwis dedicated to education and this Government is killing this institution and risking the jobs of over 100 people.

“The National Government’s obsession with the free market has killed off this proud New Zealand institution and our children’s education will be poorer as a result,” said Ms Delahunty.

ENDS

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