Debate over Tomorrow’s Schools
Concerns have been raised the Government’s Tomorrow’s Schools proposal holds vague details that will see it become the next political football.
The Tomorrow’s School Review is expected to be the biggest overhaul for schools in 30 years.
But public meetings which are being held across the country have pointed to concerns there has not been enough time to provide feedback before the April 7 consultation deadline.
But Education Minister Chris Hipkins has rejected those concerns, saying the review’s independent taskforce had provided a ‘‘pretty detailed’’ report.
It had consulted for almost a year, and the proposal would adhere to highlighted issues, he said.
The taskforce will hold regional consultation sessions until the end of March while National’s education spokeswoman Nikki Kaye has headed a series of opposition-led public meetings across the country.
Kaye said concerns among parents, principals, teachers, students and the wider-community were similar.
They included the consultation period being too short, fears over the potential concentration of power with the existence of education hubs, and worries the proposed fiveyear term of a principal’s reign at a school would lead to a lack of individuality.
Kaye also criticised the Government for not providing taxpayers with a pricetag for the proposals, which she said could blow out to be hundreds of millions of dollars.
The proposals set out in the taskforce’s report, led by former principal Bali Haque, would look to change the governance, management and administration of our schools.
The report has left people with too many unanswered questions, she said. ‘‘We do agree the statusquo needs to change . . . our concern is there appears to be too much power with officials.’’
A community’s role in supporting a school should not be underestimated, she said. ‘‘Our concern is parents will feel disempowered.’’
Hipkins said the Government had not taken a view on the Tomorrow’s Schools Review and would await feedback gathered by the independent taskforce. From that work, a revised set of recommendations would be made. ‘‘We’ll make decisions after that.’’
Hipkins said he was in regular talks with members from the National Party, Greens and NZ First over the review.
‘‘I would prefer it not to become a political football. That’s why the consultation that we’re in at the moment is really, really important.’’