Chris
Hipkins
Education Spokesperson
8 April 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT
Hekia Parata fails to answer basic questions
Education Minister Hekia Parata’s inability to answer even the most basic questions about her proposed new Executive
Principal roles will have alarm bells ringing in school communities all around the country, Labour’s Education
spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.
“Schools are already concerned if they have a great principal they could find them taken away from their school for two
days a week.
“Hekia Parata’s failure to answer simple questions about what evidence underpinned this proposal will only increase
their level of concern.
“Every good school principal will say it’s more than a fulltime job. How are these new ‘super principals’ supposed to
continue successfully leading their own school and take on the challenge of ensuring student success at up to 10 other
schools as well?
“Hekia Parata also couldn’t answer basic questions about the accountability mechanisms around the new roles and whether
Boards of Trustees will have the final say over whether or not their school comes under the purview of one of these new
super principals.
“School communities are all very different. Many in these communities fear they will have these new super principals
imposed on them with little consultation – something they have come to expect from Hekia Parata and the current National
government.
“I’m not at all surprised increasing numbers of parents, teachers and principals are raising concerns,” Chris Hipkins
says.