18 October 2018MEDIA STATEMENT
Bill makes for a stronger public education system
The passage of the Education Amendment Bill this afternoon draws a line under some of the most divisive policies of the
previous Government and puts the emphasis back on quality education, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said.
“The Bill scraps National’s ideologically driven National Standards and charter schools. The agenda of deregulation and
privatisation, coupled with an obsession with measurement and compliance was undermining our education system and
leading to worse outcomes for young New Zealanders.
“Our Government is focused on rebuilding a high quality public education system for all students. We’re focused on
improving education through policies based on robust research and evidence, not bumper sticker slogans and blind
ideology.
“Teachers and principals fought against National Standards because they failed to measure progress across the curriculum
and increased teacher workload. During the time National Standards were in place, the performance of New Zealand
students in the areas of reading, writing and maths actually went backwards in international studies.
“Charter schools were a deregulated, privatised form of schooling that we simply don’t need in New Zealand. They didn’t
have to employ qualified and registered teachers, didn’t have to teach to the New Zealand Curriculum and could operate
as profit-making businesses. That’s why the Bill ends the charter school model and supports the transition of the
existing schools into the state system.
“The Bill restores guaranteed staff and student representation on the governing councils of our tertiary institutions,
something the previous National Government stripped away in yet another one of their attacks on democratic
participation.
“The Bill also adds further protections to the fees-free tertiary education policy by introducing an offence for those
who make a false representation about their eligibility for this policy, and changes the timeframe for school boards to
develop their strategic plans to three years from four.
“This Bill implements policy commitments Labour, New Zealand First, and the Green Party all campaigned on during the
election campaign. We’re working together as a strong and cohesive team to put the emphasis back on a quality public
education system that provides all New Zealanders with the lifelong learning opportunities they deserve,” Chris Hipkins
said.
Notes to editor –
• The Bill is here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/
• Cabinet papers providing advice on the Education Amendment Bill and the charter school removal process, released
earlier this year, can be found athttp://www.education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/information-releases/education-amendment-bill-2018-information-release/