Federated Farmers has slammed the Government’s plans to increase class sizes, saying it is short-sighted, bad for the rural sector and at odds with National’s pro-farming stance.
They want the Government to rethink a new policy that will increase the ratio of students to teachers because it is a “massive disincentive” for families thinking about moving into the rural sector.
Federated Farmers’ education spokesperson Jeanette Maxwell says the move goes against the Government’s drive to get more people into farming.
“The Government says it wants more people to take an interest in farming as a viable, family friendly career choice, but this short-sighted policy does not take this laudable aim into account at all.
“Many rural schools are already understaffed. Having just three teachers to around 60 children ranging from five to 14 years old is quite common. Under the new rules, those children would only qualify for two teachers,” she says.
She says the plans will compromise rural children’s futures and decrease the opportunities for education in rural communities.
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