Teachers hail Labour policy

Linda Woon

Labour's new education policies are finding favour with Rotorua principals.

At its election year Congress at the weekend, Labour announced education policies costing $850 million over four years, including reduced class sizes, hiring 2000 more teachers, increasing teacher quality, restricting school donations and funding digital devices.

Under the policy centrepiece of reducing class sizes, primary school classes would drop from 29 students per teacher to 26 by 2016, and secondary school classes would drop to an average of 23 students per teacher by 2018.

Otonga Primary School principal Linda Woon said most teachers would agree lowering the student-teacher ratio was an effective way to lift student achievement, particularly for less advanced students.

"The research says it's good teaching that makes a difference and on the whole I think we've got good teachers. But if we can put them with those students who need them the most, that will make a difference."

Although there had been criticism that providing more teachers would mean having to build extra classrooms, the investment was worth it, she said.

"You would use those teachers to target the [low achieving] students."

Rotorua Lakes High School principal Bruce Walker said funding digital devices for poorer families was becoming more important as the devices were used more regularly in classrooms.

A Labour government would provide a $100 subsidy towards buying tablets or netbooks, with parents paying off the remainder at $3.50 a week.

The poorest families could call on a $5 million hardship fund to help if they cannot afford payments or fall into arrears.

Teachers would also be given training in how to get the best use from the devices.

Mr Walker said he was a "firm believer" in reducing class sizes to make a difference to student achievement.

"If the teacher's got 28 students in the class, they will get less feedback than if they've got 23."

Kaitao Middle School principal Rory O'Rourke said the policy was "marvellous".

"My only concern would be where they are finding these extra teachers. But in saying that, there are a lot of redundant teachers at the moment so, if they address that, I think the policy is great."

Kaingaroa Forest School principal Mike Jones said he could not see any holes in Labour's education plans.

"I have always said the smaller the class, the better the teaching, because it means less management and more time helping children learn."

Mr Jones said he was in favour of the digital device initiative.

"We are in the digital age and every child should have access to a digital device. If this policy can help that become a reality, then I think it's a very good start."

Aorangi School principal Debra Harrod said their operations grant was spread thinly each year and any extra support was welcomed.

"We are getting more and more children enrolled in school each year, and so getting subsidised digital devices and more teachers would be a big help."

People commenting on the Rotorua Daily Post Facebook page said while the policy was good in theory, there were financial downfalls.

"It sounds though Labour are clutching at straws. It seems they're going to be yes men to everything that everybody wants," one commenter wrote.