Hon Bill English National Education Spokesman
19 April 2004
PPTA Sings From Mallard’s Songsheet
The PPTA should focus on the substantial pressures on secondary schooling rather than barking whenever the Labour
Government whistles, says National Education spokesman Bill English.
The PPTA president has been reported as warning of more industrial action as a result of changes to education policy
when National regains power.
“It would be difficult for the PPTA to take more industrial action than it has under the Labour Government. The next pay
round looks likely to be as contentious as the 2002 round, which included lengthy strikes,” says Mr English.
“Labour is losing ground in education as they are taking control away from parents and communities. A campaign of
scare-tactics jointly sponsored by Labour and their friends at the PPTA just tells parents that National is right.”
Secondary schools are under pressure from the requirements of the NCEA, more bureaucratic demands from central
government and families herded into schools by unfair zoning restrictions.
“PPTA members I talk to are disillusioned by Labour and its bureaucracy, and they way they have used 1970s solutions to
deal with the requirements of a new century.
“National supports a less centralised system of dynamic secondary schooling where education professionals are trusted to
make the decisions that best suit their schools and communities. We also want to see teaching as a highly regarded
profession where good teachers are rewarded,” says Mr English.
“Parents know that the world is just too complicated for people sitting in the Beehive and the PPTA head office to be
making all the decisions that affect their kids.
“The PPTA will earn the respect of the wider community by becoming less partisan and more forward looking.
“National and the PPTA will disagree on education policy if only because the PPTA represents the status quo. An incoming
National Government will make changes on behalf of parents and students,” says Mr English.
Ends