Hekia Parata has been forced to make an embarrassing u-turn; Stuff reports:
In a major u-turn, Education Minister Hekia Parata says staff pupil ratios will not change.The move comes in the face of a backlash from teachers and parents after Budget moves to increase class sizes.Sources this morning confirmed the policy was not "set in stone" and the Government was open to other ways to achieve its goal of lifting the quality of teaching, after a signal from Prime Minister John Key that it was prepared to listen to alternatives.Speaking to Radio New Zealand from London, Key said: "My view is that we want to achieve the outcome that we stated. And that is to improve the quality of teaching and teacher quality in general and that's the purpose of the policy."Asked if there was another way to achieve that he said: "Other people will suggest that. That's one of the reasons why the minister is talking to the unions. She is talking to the sector. I'm sure she will continue to do that."It is understood feedback to the Government, especially to electorate MPs, has been highly critical of the plan.
The Government's handling of this issue has been poor. Hekia Parata has done a very bad job articulating what was not in itself a bad policy, and gave the teacher unions and sector groups the leeway to set the agenda. She has been totally exposed on this issue.
The level of opposition was such that John Key has been left with little option but to instruct Ms Parata from afar to back away. It takes the heat out of the issue of teacher-pupil ratios for now.
29 comments:
When you say 'what was not in itself a bad policy' and 'takes the heat out of the issue of teacher-pupil ratios for now' what part of increasing class sizes against good evidence do you find good policy?
Also, by stating 'we daresay that she will be getting a call' did you intend the singular transitive verb 'daresay' to agree with the plural 'we' or should your readers interpret this use of language in another way?
Steady KS..
You're doing fine.
Keep ignoring the trolls.
Trolls try to change the focus of a debate. Interested parties ask pertinent questions about what the blogger posted to distill ideas or to clarify meaning.
MvL you seem ignorant of this fact.
MvL
You appear to be the only one fulfilling the definition of a troll.
Now, despite the plausible link between two terrible policies, even I'd cede to accusations of trolling here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7059546/Opposition-takes-aim-at-asset-sales
Still. It has very valid and relevant implications based on the hopelessness of the government across the board.
Hekia's been well and truly out-politicked on this one.
It was never about teacher pupil ratios, but the vested interests managed to frame it that way and have once again staved off performance pay for teachers.
Parata presented this proposal to the National Party caucus. They agreed to it.
Bill English is the author of the Budget. He agreed to it.
John Key is the Prime Minister. He approved of it.
Incompetence from bottom to top. These incompetents can't even put out a Budget that's sound. How can any of us believe they can run a country?
Fiscal prudence? Don't make me laugh! English and Key haven't a clue. This f***ing-up of policy and practice is the hall-mark of this National Government.
Stephenson
Huge numbers of New Zealanders are telling you that you are wrong. Your understanding of the situation is wrong and your support for the fools that tried to foist bigger classes onto us, is wrong and still you whine that they just don't understand. We understand alright. We didn't fall for your and National's ideological crap. We booted it out the door. National and it's hopeless ministers is next.
The government has backed down on education cuts, and reversed its position on class sizes. Good. By their own actions Cabinet Ministers didn't believe the bullshit they were spouting, and expecting ordinary kiwi parents to swallow larger classes while John Key sent his kids to private schools specifically for smaller ones was never going to fly. For the government, it was either back down, or get rolled at the next election.
Meanwhile, this sends a clear message to voters: if you get angry, policy changes. But class sizes aren't the only thing we have to get angry about at the moment; the government is also planning to sell our assets. Time for a bit more public anger on that, I think.
Steady on Anon (3.46pm) - James Stephenson has said on any number of occasions that he's NOT a National voter!
A great victory to the Unions and a humiliation from which the minister cannot recover. The teacher Unions now rule the roost and call the shots.
Parata Pariah
Oooh shall we touch that nerve again and see if the knee jerks as violently?
"Huge numbers of New Zealanders" is not the sense that I get hanging out with the Yummy mummies club on the school run...I'm seeing a very squeaky wheel getting dollop of grease in lieu of being properly fixed.
I'm an ordinary parent of a primary school child and I've already seen the difference between a very good and a very average teacher of James Jr. Most parents I speak to would say smaller classes are a "nice to have" but a decent teacher is essential.
Disclaimer: I'm not a Nat voter but I am the child of a teacher, so I do actually have a lot of time for those at the "chalk face" (and hey, some of my best friends are teachers). It's still under consideration as a career change for me in the next few years but without performance pay, it's a lot less likely.
Give it up! Parata and Key have taken a well-earned whipping over this. I don't care if you voted for them or not. Stop apologising for stupidity.
KS are you going to answer anon's 2.31pm question? It would shed a lot of light on an interesting position.
Cheers!
Yep. Parts, English, Key 0, Teachers' Union 1
Only rational solution: time to Scott Walker the teacher's union!
Now that the education sector has taken the victory, other sectors can see that National caves when the pressure is applied. Watch for the next round, Natty-lovers, and weep!
Hekia's burning like a witch over this, but it's really the bloated team of Key, English, Joyce and English that's responsible. They're happy though to have Parata torched while they lurk in the shadows. Cowards.
Keeping Stock's not even commenting on his own blog but manages to talk about this issue at Kiwiblog.
Weird!
"June 7, 2012 3:46 PM"
PPTA member detected.
By the way, there is no apostrophe in "its" if it's possessive. Good job. I imagine you would never get a pay hike for good performance.
What is there in any of these comments for the blog author to comment on?
A handful of anonymous gloaters trolling in the absence of you know who.
Not much of an adult conversation going on is there?
@South Island The Home Of Losers.
What is there in the comments for the blog host to address so far?
Just the gloatings of a handful of anomymice in the absence of the S.I.T.H.O.L. role model.
It was good to see someone on the panel on Campbell Live finally publically correct Parata’s repeated referencing of the 20% tail number. That figure came from the 2005 PISA report by the OECD, but in the 2009 report the number had fallen to 14%. In the years since 2009 we have seen NCEA performance continue to improve, so when the newest numbers come out this year it is likely the so-called tail will have fallen even more.
KS. Where are you to back up your opinions and to encourage good debate?
I'm hoping Parata has learned from this and time will tell whether her reaction was motivated by political survival or what is good for education. She comes across as a clever woman, so I'm hoping it is the latter.
Education is too important to stuff around and for a profession that relies on an evidence base to determine change the last three years have been hell. The 20% failure stuff is largely a myth and child poverty has more to do with educational outcomes than good teaching. I am hoping Hekia will see the light and begin collaborating with the profession.
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/paratas-future.html
@ Claude - unlike some, I have a life, and visitors.
@bsprout - finally; an intelligent assessment of yesterday's developments, instead of the gloating. I agree; this mess will either make or break Ms Parata, but the damage may already be too much to recover from. What she needs to do now is get around the table with the unions and sector groups (even if she finds that unpalatable), and get them involved in the process of developing an alternative strategy.
"The 20% failure stuff is largely a myth...."
So teachers are not part of the solution then?
When you say '@ Claude - unlike some, I have a life,' you know that reflects more on you than on others, particularly in your selective engagement, don't you?
@ bsprout
Perhaps the 20% are an ideal test-bed for the Charter Schools initiative?
Are you open to such an approach?
Post a Comment