National’s error yields a scoop

The National Party has been left red faced after a draft copy of leader Don Brash's education speech - containing musings and original policy ideas - was accidentally distributed.

Dr Brash gave the major education policy speech - which contained sweeping reforms - on Wednesday, but yesterday a copy of his draft speech was posted on the Scoop website.

The draft copy had been inadvertently sent to Scoop by a National Party staff member.

The draft shows National had intended to overhaul decile funding, make stronger criticisms of unions and bureaucracy, and provide far greater funding for private schools - policies that were watered down or left out of the final speech.

The draft also contained notes from a writer, who appears to be Dr Brash, to education spokesman Bill English, such as, "Is this really any different from what happens now?" in relation to funding.

One of most contentious policies revealed in the speech - the plan to introduce reading and maths standards for 7-year-olds and tuition vouchers for those who fall short - has been criticised by educators and the draft shows Dr Brash also appeared to have doubts.

"Bill - what value will these have? What is our line on this?" he writes.

The draft also shows National wanted to overhaul the decile funding formulas - a policy left out of the actual speech.

Far greater support had also been mooted for private schools, with National planning to lift the state's per-pupil contribution to 50 per cent.

The draft speech shows the party was prepared to level strong criticism at the unions and the education bureaucracy, by saying they dominated the education system and used parents, teachers and children as pawns in a power game.

The accidental release of the draft speech provided Education Minister Trevor Mallard with ammunition in Parliament yesterday.

"I will just say that until those members can do information and communications technology, they cannot do education."