Behind Hekia Parata's about-face on class sizes

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Behind Hekia Parata's about-face on class sizes

3News NZ

The planned changes would have seen larger class sizes in some schools and the loss of some teaching positions (file pic)

The planned changes would have seen larger class sizes in some schools and the loss of some teaching positions (file pic)

Teacher-pupil ratios won't change.

Tonight Campbell Live spoke to the key players – Minister of Education Hekia Parata, the PPTA, the New Zealand Principals Federation, and an intermediate principal who has been an outspoken critic of the Government's changes.

The changes took everyone by surprise, including the minister.

As late as this morning, Hekia Parata was still defending increased class sizes.

But at 2pm the idea was expelled.

Watch the video for the full report on class sizes, technology centres and why the minister had an about-face this afternoon.

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Comments

13/06/2012 4:22:14 p.m.

Rowan Cant wrote:

Just an odd observation which doesn't have much to do with the topic. Teaching is dominated by women, especially Primary school teaching. How come there are three men up there? Shouldn't there be at least one woman in a leadership role?

8/06/2012 10:53:24 a.m.

Jon B wrote:

NZ Government 1 - New Zealand People 0 ... The NZ Government may have succeeded in pulling the wool firmly over the eyes of the NZ public and media. While "backtracking" on their class size increase, they are still pushing forward with their education cuts through the withdrawal of financial support (and loans!) for post-grad study. This will have a huge long term effect on training of quality teachers, and other quality professionals. As all teacher training is now moving to postgrad study, it means a significant cost increase to students to gain the qualifications they need to qualify as trained teachers. At the moment, the way of funding this seems to be from the individual's pocket. Long term this will mean fewer teachers in training and, therefore, fewer graduates. As the profession is full of baby-boomers it's inevitable that we will hit a wall of not enough teachers for the jobs that are available. The result = less teachers to pay and increased class sizes without public outcry as it will be natural progression from the decisions made at Tertiary level in the sector. NZ Government - shame on you!