PPTA congratulates first female education minister

Media Release
20 November 2008

PPTA congratulates first female education minister

PPTA president Robin Duff congratulates Anne Tolley on being appointed New Zealand’s first female minister of education.

“In our dealings with Anne as education spokesperson we have found her a straight-talker who is willing to listen to other viewpoints and research issues. We hope to see this continue during her time as minister,” he said.

Mr Duff was particularly heartened by repeated assertions from Tolley that she would not bow to pressure from the Act Party to return to bulk funding of secondary schools.

She has labeled the practice as out-dated, divisive and something that will not happen while she is minister.

“We are glad to see her asserting her position on such an important issue, in the face of extreme right wing ideology that could seriously harm our education system.”

Mr Duff was also pleased to hear Tolley acknowledge that teacher recruitment and retention will be a priority for her.

PPTA also has a number of concerns that it intends to address with the new government including, changes in Kiwisaver and teacher superannuation, the future of a secondary staffing review promised by the Labour government, NCEA, support for the new curriculum and the implications of National’s Youth Guarantee.

“We look forward to discussion on these issues and finding potential solutions,” he said.

ENDS

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