Principals ‘jumped the gun’ with attack
A high school union boss says the principals who gave Chris Hipkins’ NCEA review a ‘‘fail’’ grade have ‘‘jumped the gun’’.
Full-page spreads were bought in Stuff’s and competitor
by a group of nearly 40 high school principals, predominantly in Auckland, attacking the Government’s review process of the national high school qualification.
Among the criticisms were the consultation period was too short, the ministerial advisory committee did not have a representative mandate, and principals had not been engaged in enough direct consultation.
It gave the minister a ‘‘fail’’ grade, saying the review was ‘‘too rushed, not enough thought, must do better for young people’’.
But Post-Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) president Jack Boyle said consultation was ongoing, and nothing was set in stone.
‘‘Rather than jumping up and down at the start, that this is all set in stone, and firing off in the wrong direction, it’s probably more sensible to have a measured response to each of the steps in the process, so you can deal with what’s most important, and that is to ensure we have got a topflight education system, where we are delivering the right type of learning to young people, including those who have missed out.’’
Boyle said part of the disquiet could be because Hipkins was more open to consultation and coconstruction than his recent predecessors.
‘‘Some of the principals behind the newspaper ad are maybe used to having their voices pre-eminent on matters related to education ...
‘‘Minister Hipkins appears to be wanting to draw widely on voices that aren’t always heard, and has, therefore, adopted structures that are a little different.’’
The past nine years was a period of no consultation, consultation after decisions had been made, or what Boyle referred to as ‘‘nonsultation’’.
‘‘I guess some might be stuck in the experience of the last nine years, where consultation that happens, happens after the plans already been signed off.’’
Open and ongoing consultation was worth pursuing, and PPTA had good reason to believe Hipkins would keep his word that any decisions that affected the profession would be made in conjunction with the profession.
‘‘We believe it’s more important to work in good faith in a truly open way,’’ Boyle said. ‘‘It’s a very contested space. The reality is you’re not going to please everybody more than half of the time.
‘‘But having an opportunity for people to bring their professional knowledge and experience into a change programme is a hell of a lot better than not consulting.’’
Rather than ‘‘jump the gun’’ and ‘‘create policy via media’’, schools and principals should be working with the Government, he said. A review of NCEA was required under the regulations, and would have happened regardless.
‘‘We believe it’s more important to work in good faith in a truly open way.’’ Post-Primary Teachers’ Association president Jack Boyle