ERO cuts send ‘mixed’ messages
THE Education Review Office is set to cut 13 jobs, the Public Service Association says.
ERO was directed to slash 6.5% of its spending amid wider public sector cuts, and has proposed to disestablish 25 roles and create 12 new ones, it said.
The roles being disestablished included review officers who assessed how well school and early childhood centres were educating children, PSA assistant secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said.
‘‘We all know that the education system is facing a huge challenge to ensure students are achieving at the level they should be, so why cut the very agency charged with driving up quality?’’
The government was sending mixed messages, she said.
‘‘On the one hand it says lifting achievement is its number one education priority, yet it has forced the Ministry of Education to shed 755 jobs, cut 35 roles at the New Zealand Qualification Authority and 28 at the Tertiary Education Commission. And now ERO.
‘‘This just doesn’t add up.’’
The office employs about 250 staff, its website said.
‘‘Expanded regional offices could work in partnership with schools to help improve student learning, including sharing effective practice across schools, strengthening data analysis, supporting family, local community and iwi engagement, and enhancing twoway communication between schools and government agencies.
‘‘More specialist subject support to lift teacher capacity to design and implement the curriculum they will teach is needed.
‘‘The ministry used to have specialist subject advisers and they should be reinstated.’’ New Zealand should not increase total spending, so the Education Ministry should increase its frontline resources by reprioritising its spending.