National tying schools up in red tape

Schools are being tied up in red tape by the National Government and our kids learning is suffering because of it, Labour’s Education spokesman Chris Hipkins says.

“The dramatic drop in international rankings of our education system shows National’s policies are not working.

“Hekia Parata is blaming schools’ lack of compliance. Instead she should be investing in teaching.

“National’s obsession with constant testing and assessment is taking up too much of our teachers’ time. They must have the time to actually teach kids rather than fill in forms.

“The Government has its priorities all wrong.

“It cut $35 million from teachers’ professional development in 2009 and has cut funding for science and technology advisors who work with schools.

“Hekia Parata refuses to take today’s PISA results seriously enough and is constantly trying to talk them down.

“She is also turning a deaf ear to the effect inequality has on education.

“No government can achieve their educational targets by declaring war on teachers.

“A Labour government will concentrate on programmes that work. We will extend Reading Recovery so all children who are falling behind in their reading can catch-up.

“We will also develop a Maths Recovery programme and improve professional development opportunities so teachers can improve their skills and help more of our kids.

“Labour will also dump National Standards and axe charter schools,” Chris Hipkins says.

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