Don't tell those on the coalface to keep quiet

Alliance says Secretary for Education should not be telling those on the coalface to keep quiet

Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday 30 May 2008

Alliance party education spokesperson Richard Wallis says Secretary of Education Karen Sewell does not have the right to tell teachers to stop asking for more funding for education.

"Telling teachers that they should stop moaning and get on with teaching with what they have is like asking Scott Dixon to win the Indy 500 in a beaten up VW. Possible, but highly unlikely."

Mr Wallis says the Alliance cannot accept the irony of a highly paid civil servant telling teachers to forget about funding.

"Without the proper resourcing teachers cannot be expected to deliver anything more than an average education to New Zealand's students."

Mr Wallis said there had been recent calls from another principal (Vicki Barrie of Northcote College) for more funding so she could deliver the education her students deserved.

"This is just another example of how this Government is not willing to make the necessary investment in education."

Mr Wallis also reminds Dr Cullen that recently schools in the Hawke's Bay were pointing out that the costs of running their schools far outweighed the funding they received.

He says the Secretary of Education should consider calling on her Minister to fund schools properly.

"If this Labour led Government wants the world class education system it speaks of then is should be prepared to invest sufficient funds to make it a reality."

If things continue as they are then it will not be long before schools are staffed by one or two teachers whose job it is to write the lessons for a team of relief teachers to deliver, says Mr Wallis.

"This will result in a poor education system where students will fail to receive the education they both need and deserve."

Under an Alliance Government schools would be funded and resourced to a level where classes did not exceed 20 students.

ENDS

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