Parata’s absence dismays PPTA forum
Education Minister Hekia Parata has been slammed by the outgoing president of the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association for turning down an invitation to speak for the ‘‘first time in living memory’’.
Angela Roberts addressed hundreds of teachers at the union’s annual conference in Wellington yesterday – an event Parata has traditionally spoken at.
‘‘The minister accepted our invitation, but then, a few weeks ago came back to us to say she was actually unavailable,’’ Roberts said.
Parata’s decision not to speak came at the same time the PPTA, together with the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI), announced joint paid union meetings over the Government’s global funding proposal.
‘‘You might think the two events are connected but I couldn’t possibly comment,’’ Roberts said.
‘‘This will be the first time in living memory that there will be no address from a government minister at a PPTA conference.’’
Parata is in the United States meeting education experts before flying to Israel to attend the Global Education Industry Summit.
Last year Parata used anti- apartheid protests in her speech to PPTA members to express her disgust at their ban on working with people involved with charter schools.
‘‘While I’m here and to you, I am disappointed that the PPTA in Northland opposed a teacher who had taught at a partnership school, teaching at that school,’’ Parata said last October.
‘‘Many of us took to the streets in 1981 to oppose discrimination in another country. We’re a country built on active democratic principles of fairness, equity and accessibility.’’
Roberts acknowledged Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye, who has previously addressed the conference, and is being treated for breast cancer.
‘‘We have always found her great to work with, straight up, consultative, considered and thoughtful. We wish her all the best in her battle with cancer.’’
Meetings by the two unions delivered overwhelming opposition to Parata’s proposal for global funding for schools – seen as a return to bulk funding. ‘‘We are united in our determination and conviction to defeat the Government’s plan to asset-strip our schools,’’ Roberts said.