Sharples’ Opposition to Natl Standards A Message

Media Release February 1st, 2010
From NZEI Te Riu Roa
For Immediate Use

Sharples’ Opposition to National Standards Sends Strong Political Message

The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says the Minister of Maori Affairs and Association Education Minister must seek an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister to express his opposition to the introduction of National Standards.

Pita Sharples publicly stated his opposition on Waatea News this morning saying he was not consulted on the policy and that the Standards pose grave dangers for Maori.

The government is pushing ahead with the implementation of National Standards despite growing opposition from parents, teachers, principals and educationalists. The Standards are untried and untested and there is strong support for them to be trialled before being rolled out nationwide.

NZEI Matua Takawaenga Laures Park says Dr Sharples’ comments are politically significant and should force a government policy rethink.

The government claims National Standards will raise underachievement and target the 20 percent tail of children who are failing, many of whom are Maori.

“It is ironic that Dr Sharples, as Minister of Maori Affairs, Associate Education Minister and Maori Party co-leader, was not consulted on a policy which the government alleges will raise Maori student achievement. His opposition takes away the government’s whole rationale for introducing the Standards,” says Laures Park.”

Dr Sharples’ comments also reinforce the position of a large group of Northland principals who say they will boycott the Standards as they have no confidence that they will raise Maori achievement levels.

Laures Park says Dr Sharples must now lead the charge and take action to show the government the overwhelming opposition of Maori to the Standards.

NZEI is launching a National Standards school bus tour tomorrow in Kaitaia and Bluff. It will visit hundreds of schools and communities during Term One, with the message “Trial National Standards, not our Kids.” The bus will be in the Waitangi area on Waitangi Day where NZEI members will be seeking a meeting with Dr Sharples to discuss the issues.

ENDS

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