Media Release
12 December 2011

Hekia Parata worthy of education portfolio

Secondary teachers will be looking forward to a constructive relationship with the newly appointed education minister Hekia Parata after developing a good working relationship with her predecessor Anne Tolley, said PPTA president Robin Duff.

“I’d like to congratulate Hekia Parata personally for her promotion within Cabinet ranks. I look forward to working with her to enhance the education system for our young people and to help make teaching a first-choice career,” Mr Duff said.

“However, my first advice will be to have her wits about her given the government’s present coalition arrangement,” he said.

“The newly appointed associate education minister, ACT’s John Banks, has already displayed a profound ignorance of the education system. In his promoting of proposals to open charter schools in New Zealand , Mr Banks seems unaware that most of what he envisions for charter schools is already being done.”

“Also Mr Banks’ inaccurate claim that Onehunga High School was a charter school was a shameful gaff.”

“Nevertheless, we trust that Hekia Parata’s experience and knowledge of the education sector will enable her to formulate constructive policy.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media