Good Luck Ms Sewell

Katherine Rich MP
National Party Education Spokeswoman

5 February 2007

Good Luck Ms Sewell

A pledge by the new Secretary for Education, Karen Sewell, to make her Ministry more ‘open and transparent’ will require more than an office makeover, says National Party Education spokeswoman, Katherine Rich.

In today’s issue of the Education Gazette, Ms Sewell, who took up the role in November, says she is determined to break down barriers to the public accessing Ministry information.

Ms Sewell told the Gazette she wanted an office refit, knocking out a wall and putting in glass so she can see her reception area, adding to her new vision of transparency.

She says: “I also want to get rid of that wall and replace it with clear glass … I want the Ministry of Education to be more open and transparent. We have to be accessible and responsive. We have some wonderful information here and we need to make it more available. I don’t want us to feel isolated. I don’t want people to think secret stuff goes on here, because it doesn’t.”

Mrs Rich welcomes the new approach but warns that Ms Sewell’s attempts to allow the public to access information will most likely be stymied by Education Minister Steve Maharey.

“I certainly welcome this new approach and hope this means the Ministry will reconsider making information from the School Smart website publicly available.

“Parents have a right to access the same information on schools as principals and bureaucrats, but for months National’s attempts to get this site made public have been refused by Mr Maharey.

“Ms Sewell is on a collision course with the Minister who regularly declines Official Information Act requests and generally hides information relating to schools and their performance.

“I wish Ms Sewell good luck in her fresh approach but would warn her to think carefully before installing glass walls as a symbolic gesture of transparency and save her actions for something that will actually improve children’s learning.”

ENDS

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