Editorial: Parata's push caned by public

The people spoke and the Government listened.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has abandoned all plans to change funding of class ratios which would have meant many Northland schools lost teachers.

The decision followed a survey of more than 80 people in centres from Whangarei to Otago which showed that 81 per cent were opposed to the controversial ratio changes announced as part of the Budget.

The reaction to the budget changes last month had been immediate - within 24 hours of the announcement, concerned intermediate school education experts had contacted the Northern Advocate to say "this is wrong".

They were right.

Ms Parata says the backdown was in response to parents' concerns about the proposed changes.

The Government had mistakenly believed the changes were modest and would be accepted.

They were wrong, and have admitted they were.

Earlier this week, Patrick Walsh - Secondary Principals' Association of New Zealand president - had said he was flabbergasted the Government had ever thought increasing class sizes was a good idea.

Thankfully, common sense has prevailed. National will lick its wounds over this one and ponder the way forward as it considers other ways to save the $40 million plus within the education sector.

Looking back, one can now see why the no-nonsense Anne Tolley (now the police minister) was not left with the education portfolio at the last election. Perhaps the National leaders thought Ms Parata - viewed as consultative and caring - could slip the class reductions through.

They were wrong.

Despite personality changes, a bad idea is still a bad idea.

And education remains National's problem child.