Council fails says Mallard

Education Minister Trevor Mallard says the Teachers Council has failed to perform.

He was asked in Parliament yesterday whether he had confidence in the council, which took over from the Teachers Registration Board about three years ago.

United Future MP Bernie Ogilvy noted the council had been entrusted with responsibility for teacher quality.

In three years the council had spent $95,000, but still hadn't completed its first task - producing a code of ethics.

Mr Mallard replied: "I think it's fair to say that the Teachers Council has not performed up to my expectations."

ACT MP Deborah Coddington asked Mr Mallard whether $32.3 million had been spent to provide in 100 schools facilitators to help teachers with professional development in literacy. " ... It's a complete failure and that's why he is refusing to release the reports that confirm as much to me under the Official Information Act," she said.

Mr Mallard said he could not confirm that and that no reports had been released because they were incomplete.

- NZPA