KEY POINTS:
The education industry has welcomed a discussion about the length of time students should be kept at school, as long as teachers are not going to be expected to extend their contact hours.
The School Trustees Association, which represents most of the 2700 school boards, wants a national
debate on whether schools should open well before 9am and shut much later each day to better cater for pupils' changing needs.
Association general manager Ray Newport said any such move would require a law change.
He conceded that extending the school day had huge implications for staffing levels, teachers' hours and the effects on pupils and working parents.
But Education Minister Anne Tolley has welcomed the suggestion, saying there is an "appetite" for fresh ideas to benefit pupils, teachers and principals.
Frances Nelson, president of the NZ Educational Institute primary teachers' union, said the issue was what role the teacher would take on and whether the students would be educated the whole time, or be in care.
She said teachers, who had contact time between 9am and 3pm, could not work longer hours looking after the students. "They [wouldn't] have time to prepare what they need to do for their teaching processes.
"So we're actually talking about a different kind of function and different people doing that kind of job."
Ms Nelson said there were many places overseas where the system of other people coming in was working well in schools.
"So let's see what would be good for our country ... and how would we, in the short, medium and long term make that happen."
Principals Federation president Paddy Ford said the issue had come up before and had been rejected.
He said the contact hours at the moment suited the needs of pupils and he did not agree with longer periods at school.
He thought parents would oppose the idea as well. "I think that would be a real concern if you're a parent and you wanted your children away from home more than what they are.
"Being a parent is a fulltime job and you shouldn't be looking to schools to provide babysitting services."
Lobby group Family First has also dismissed the suggestion school hours should be extended.
"Education is based on quality, not quantity, and a suggestion to extend the school hours is not in the best interests of children and young people," said national director Bob McCoskrie.
"Extended hours will cut into valuable family time, sports and music practices, and is ultimately about serving the needs and pressures of fulltime working parents.
"It would also cause chaos for families where children are at different schools with different schedules each day."
Kate Gainsford, president-elect of the Post Primary Teachers' Association, said teachers already had heavy workloads.
She said non-contact time was essential for marking and lesson preparation.
- NZPA
