Call off the education cuts
Written By:
- Date published:
7:21 am, June 1st, 2012 - 17 comments
Categories: budget2012, education, Hekia parata, schools -
Tags: cuts, education
National has no choice but to call off the education cuts. The sooner they do it the sooner it will stop killing them in the court of public opinion. The education sector is united:
Sector revolts against teacher cuts
The Education Minister knew she had a fight on her hands – but now it is turning into a war.
The Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools says its relationship with the ministry has completely broken down, and in an unprecedented move, teachers, principals, trustees and parents are all preparing to fight her together, to stop cuts to teacher numbers.
Headlines like this are going to keep appearing:
Wellington school technology centre closing after cuts
The Government’s classroom cuts continue to hurt, with a Wellington intermediate school today telling parents it will be forced to close its technology centre, which serves 17 other Wellington schools.
Hekia Parata is under so much pressure over cutting teachers and increasing class sizes that she now can’t answer one simple question: will it cause school technology centres to close?
“We are focussing on raising quality,” is her only answer.
RNZ this morning reports children coming home in tears at news of potential technology class closures, and that The Maori Party and Peter Dunne are expressing concern (claiming they weren’t briefed, and starting to cite “no surprises” clauses). It won’t help that:
Key won’t rule out future school cuts
Intermediate schools have been saved from losing more than two teachers over the next three years, but Prime Minister John Key will not give an assurance that they will not face more severe cuts after that.
I have some skin in this game. For many years I’ve done voluntary activities in schools to promote technology education. How many of the teachers and the programmes that I’ve worked with are going to disappear? Promoting technology is clearly the right thing to do. Any country in its right mind will be focusing on MORE technology education, not LESS. But this is not, currently, a country in its right mind. National needs to ditch these stupid cuts now.
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- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
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- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...14 hours ago - Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...15 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
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- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
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- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
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- First arrests made under gang patch ban
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- Better support for victims of sexual violence
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- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
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- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...19 hours ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...21 hours ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
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- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
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- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
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- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
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- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
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- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
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- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
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- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
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- New diplomatic appointments
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- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
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- Red Tape Tipline goes live
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- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
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- Police stats show promising change
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- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
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- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
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- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...5 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...7 days ago
- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
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- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
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- Proposals to modernise conservation released
Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is ...7 days ago
- Knowing superstitions aren’t real doesn’t stop us behaving superstitiously – why?
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- This week three parties stood together – can they withstand the storm to come?
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Do they care about public opinion? The purpose of this government is to transfer New Zealand resources and wealth to its clients.
They will lose the election in 2014, and start up another campaign of hate-speech against the new government. They will rely on that hate-speech to return them to the Treasury benches. Then the cycle repeats.
Public opinion has nothing to do with it except inasmuch as it can be emotionally manipulated.
I just can’t believe some of the stuff on this site. I used to think that it was only right wingers who revelled in conspiracy theories but just a cursory glance around here shows that it’s actually you lefties who go for this stuff hook line and sinker.
Who are these mysterious ‘clients’ of the government?
And the ‘hate-speech’ thing! My god – have you read some of the comments on this site!
I have never seen a site with so much bile personally directed at people. When I think back to the old Labour party – the Norm Kirk, Bill Rowling generation – and compare their gentlemanly demeanor with the outpourings on this site I’m just amazed at the degradation.
lol
People can be rude on the internet? Thanks for the heads up.
you obviously need to get out of the house more……or is this the first blog site you’ve visited….??
you probably already know this, but there are several blog sites in nz that make the standard look positively angelic in comparison….. but don’t let a little reality get in the way of some good old fashioned turd hurling….. country style ..
fill yer boots young ‘un….
Nope, the more that NACT go round cutting and slashing now the more that the next left-government will be able to do to correct the balls up that is neo-liberalism. Renationalisation of the assets that NACT will sell and a few other natural monopolies and to put in place the necessary taxes that will be required.
The neo-liberal Labour ‘left’ won’t renationalise anything if they win the treasury benches. They’ll be fully extended putting bandaids on the current crew’s disasters and won’t have enough cash to buy back at ‘market ‘ rates. Tax will stay much as it is – can’t have all the wealth creators jumping ship, you know.
That’s what would happen if we left it solely to the leaders of the left parties rather than pushing to get what we actually need.
Anyone know exactly how this money saved will be spent on the 50,000 teachers to improve the quality in the foreseeable future? Inservice courses? Heart to heart chats? Caning bad teachers? Figuring out just what a good teacher is? Anyone?
AND who is going to do the training?
The ministry?
They dumped the advisors in 2008.
AND if performance pay is introduced, are you going to help the ‘poorer’ teachers improve to compete for your performance bonus,
AND then may be improve the performance of the next door school so they can get attract your pupils
Ian, you also make a good point about trust (heart on heart).
The NACTS burnt a lot of good will when the Nat Stds were pushed through with urgency and Tolley would not talk to the teachers.
And this change was ‘hidden’ in the budget too.
Once burnt twice shy
Easy… the market dictates the true path….. create competition among teachers for performance bonuses… allow a limited amount to allocate for these bonuses, so that only a certain number can get it each term….
the backstabbing that should ensue(assuming our teachers are only there for the money, of course)would be the perfect environment to introduce user pays education without any meaningful resistance……
And following the cutting of night school classes, the NACTS narrow view of what is required for spending on education for other people’s children, is moving back to the three R’s reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic.
No practical applied skills needed here, just the minimum required for an entry-level service industry. And a range of technology skills are only a start to the extended thinking needed to handle our 21st century confusions of directions and values. We need wider thinkers than ex-technology teacher Brownlee.
What a NZ we’ve got already! And it will only get worse with NACTs acts. Draco TB looks at it as an opportunity for Labour to gain election, restore, improve, vitalise the many run-down policies. But first they have to restore and vitalise themselves. Or have they just painted the surface, without proper sanding of the decayed paint underneath. If that were so the new coat would soon crack and peel, we houseowners know about that. So let’s get some good workmanlike skills, learned perhaps at technology classes, on restoring the Labour party to a sound, useful party for the 90% that we can trust to do their job.
+1.
Take the grinder to the Labour chisellers, for a start.
Three strikes now for National messing with education.
1. Cut the Training Incentive Allowance apart from level 1 – 3 NCEA.
2. Cut evening classes.
3. Naive idea to save 43 million.
“For many years I’ve done voluntary activities in schools to promote technology education.”
Well done.
Cheers HS. It’s very rewarding to work with bright, motivated school kids.
Indeed I do the same myself albeit in a different area.
Then likewise well done, keep up the good work!