Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Saturday 23 June 2007

Alliance backs teachers and parents demand for smaller class sizes

The Alliance Party is backing calls from teachers for smaller class sizes, and says that more teachers are urgently needed.

Alliance Party education spokesperson Richard Wallis says that research conducted for PPTA by Windshift Ltd that shows that around half of New Zealand parents want class sizes of 20 or smaller. "That is a goal the Alliance is committed to."

“The Alliance completely agrees with the findings that large classes cause student behaviour problems, fewer opportunities for practical exercises, and safety issues.”

He says that if the Government do not recruit and resource sufficient new teachers to ensure that no primary or secondary class has more than 20 students then they need to be replaced by a Party that will. Mr Wallis says a falling roll will make no difference if the problem of teacher retention is not addressed soon.

He says teachers need support to enable them to do the job. "I have seen new teachers leaving the profession in their first year because of the pressure and expectations.”

A maximum of 20 students per class would reduce the amount of paperwork, allowing teachers to spend more time teaching, he says. The Alliance is committed to the full funding of the public education system from early childhood to tertiary level, paid for through a progressive tax system.

This includes the abolition of school fees in all forms and guises, says Mr Wallis.

"If the Labour Government is not willing to make this basic commitment to the children of New Zealand, then parents and educators must use their vote to get the Alliance into Parliament to ensure all our children get the education they deserve."

ENDS

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