PQ 4. Investing in Educational Success Programme—Progress [Sitting date: 09 December 2014. Volume:702;Page:4. Text is subject to correction.]

4. JOANNE HAYES (National) to the Minister of Education : What recent announcements has she made about progress in the Government’s $359 million Investing in Educational Success initiative?

Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education): Yesterday I was delighted to announce that I have approved the first communities of schools as part of Investing in Educational Success. Eleven communities will begin from term 1 of next year, covering nearly 38,000 students from primary through to intermediate and on into secondary schools. Schools will be working together in a way that has not been seen before to lift the achievement of their students. This is a big win for our kids.

Joanne Hayes : How will these communities of schools help lift educational achievement?

Hon HEKIA PARATA : These communities of schools will have agreed and shared achievement goals, and will be sharing and collaborating around expertise and best practice in leadership and teaching. The communities also form clear pathways for kids as they transition through their education from day one through to senior schooling. Boards of trustees, principals, teachers, and parents around the country see the real potential this has for their children, and we are backing them to win.

Chris Hipkins : If she is satisfied that the Investing in Educational Success initiative is gaining the support it needs to succeed, why is the Ministry of Education spending taxpayer funding on an online advertising campaign to promote it, including on the Whale Oil website?

Hon HEKIA PARATA : It is a very positive policy, and we want to ensure that every community across the country is aware of the opportunity to participate.

Chris Hipkins : I seek leave to table the screenshot of the Ministry of Education’s advertisement on the Whale Oil website. [Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER : Order! The member will resume his seat. If it is as freely available as the member has alleged in his supplementary question, then any member can go and grab it.

Chris Hipkins : I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr SPEAKER : Is the member questioning the decision I have just—

Chris Hipkins : No, I am going to explain, as a matter of clarification.

Mr SPEAKER : I will hear from the member on this occasion.

Chris Hipkins : Website advertising is dynamic advertising. It means that if one person accesses the website, they might not get the same advertisement that somebody else gets, which is why we use screenshots to demonstrate that an advertisement has actually run.

Mr SPEAKER : I think it is a very thin line the member is arguing, but in a Christmas gesture I will put the leave and it will be over to the House to decide. Leave is sought to table this particular screenshot. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is.

ENDS

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