Sunday, 10 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand / Politics

PM: Minister of Education drove class size backdown

APNZ
10 Jun, 2012 10:09 PM2 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Hekia Parata, Minister of Education. Photo / Greg Bowker

Hekia Parata, Minister of Education. Photo / Greg Bowker

The Government's decision to back down on plans to increase class sizes was driven by Education Minister Hekia Parata, Prime Minister John Key says.

"It was her decision but I was one of a small group of ministers that got on a conference call and went through our potential options," Mr Key told TVNZ's Breakfast programme today.

Mrs Parata initiated the conference call to address the backlash over the education policy announced as part of the Budget.

Mr Key was in Europe when Mrs Parata announced last week the Government would not go ahead with the policy.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He admitted today that communicating information about the policy to change student-teacher ratios and how the Government would mitigate the impact on the worst-affected schools had not been handled well.

He said if the Government had gone ahead with the policy it would have intensified public opposition and the decision was driven by the debate with parents being lost.

"What it risked doing was causing months of industrial action, huge amounts of anxiety from parents and children and you've got to ask yourself is if that's really worth it and I think the conclusion we drew was no."

Mr Key defended the advice the Government had been given over class sizes.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He said the Government was advised that money would be better spent on improving the quality of teaching and not raising the number of teaching beyond the 52,000 teachers and principals currently employed.

"In the end the advice we had was having built up the stock considerably, it's better to spend it on the teaching quality, and that's a fair enough argument."

Mr Key said the Government was still committed to improving teacher quality but would find a new way.

Labour education spokeswoman Nanaia Mahuta said Mrs Parata should spell out her plan for improving teacher quality and student achievement.

Related articles

New Zealand|Politics

Teachers cheer backdown on class sizes

07 Jun 05:30 PM
New Zealand|Education

Parata offers forum as olive branch to education groups

08 Jun 05:30 PM
New Zealand|Education

Holiday courses for teachers would save on relievers, suggests principal

10 Jun 05:30 PM
New Zealand|Politics

David Farrar: The seventh Labour Government

11 Jun 12:13 AM

"This shouldn't be difficult. The minister has trumpeted this as her primary goal," she said.

Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Four people injured, one arrested after pedestrians hit by car in East Auckland

10 Dec 06:38 AM
New Zealand

Families who lost everything in Māngere fire will need support into new year

10 Dec 05:12 AM
New Zealand

Police respond to report of person ‘discharging shots’ in Auckland suburb

10 Dec 04:53 AM
New Zealand

'Alarming': Baby found in teens' impounded car at Waikato street-racing event

10 Dec 04:38 AM

“Never been a better time to buy an EV”

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Four people injured, one arrested after pedestrians hit by car in East Auckland

Four people injured, one arrested after pedestrians hit by car in East Auckland

10 Dec 06:38 AM

The road is closed and enquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.

Families who lost everything in Māngere fire will need support into new year

Families who lost everything in Māngere fire will need support into new year

10 Dec 05:12 AM
Police respond to report of person ‘discharging shots’ in Auckland suburb

Police respond to report of person ‘discharging shots’ in Auckland suburb

10 Dec 04:53 AM
'Alarming': Baby found in teens' impounded car at Waikato street-racing event

'Alarming': Baby found in teens' impounded car at Waikato street-racing event

10 Dec 04:38 AM
9 big questions over an EV road trip
sponsored

9 big questions over an EV road trip

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP