Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sam Huggard said today that union members and officials around the country would be turning out to support NZEI Te Riu Roa industrial action to protect quality public education and the teaching profession.

"Teachers and principals have been the last line of defence for our education system through a decade of attacks on child-centred, evidenced-based learning, through increasing workloads and classrooms sizes, and Government underfunding. They have held up our free public education system on their own time, but today they are drawing a line in the sand for the good of our kids and the whole teaching profession, and we stand beside them."

"It is a fundamental of New Zealand society, that every child, rich or poor, in our big cities or little towns should have the opportunity to reach their full potential. That’s what drives NZEI Te Riu Roa members to continue in their work and it’s exactly the reason they are having to take industrial action- to protect the Kiwi dream of equality for our kids."

"Most New Zealanders support an increase in special needs education, to increase the number of teachers overall and make sure that children get the one-on-one teaching time they all deserve. It is disappointing teachers have had to miss a day in the classroom to get these basics met - but working people around the country have said they want teachers to be empowered to protect our education system."

"Teachers and principals know best what Kiwi kids need to thrive. New Zealand stands behind them today. Kua Tae Te Wā. It’s time."

Council of Trade Union officials will be attending NZEI rallies around the country today.

Details of all NZEI rallies can be found: https://campaigns.nzei.org.nz/time/campaign-resources/strike-events-and-rallies/

ends

© Scoop Media