Education leaders have signed an open letter to the Minister of Education, Erica Stanford, strongly opposing her move this week to gut the independence and core functions of the Teaching Council.
Organisations signing the letter include NZEI Te Riu Roa, PPTA Te Wehengarua, NZ Principals Federation, New Zealand Area Schools Association, Te Akatea, Catholic Principals Association, Pasifika Principals Association, Aotearoa Educators Collective, Montessori Aotearoa NZ, Kindergartens Aotearoa and the Tertiary Educators Association of NZ (TEFANZ).
Speaking on behalf of letter signatories, NZ Principals Federation President Leanne Otene says that educators across the motu are dismayed at the political interference in their independent professional body.
“This really is over-reach by the Minister. Last year she backed off removing initial teacher education from the Council after strong opposition from the sector. Now she is not only doing that but also removing the voice of teachers from shaping our own professional standards and codes. The codes are there to protect students and uphold quality in the profession.
Ms Otene says the Teaching Council standards include strong commitments to excellence, equity and to Te Tiriti so that teachers must ensure the needs of all students are met.
“These standards give teachers the responsibility to put children's learning first, and the right to speak out on important ethical and professional issues. These standards shouldn't be subject to direct political interference by Ministers of the day.
“Our students are the ones who will suffer – this is what this change means and why we oppose it. Who will be speaking for ākonga?”
The open letter says that no evidence has been provided about how the Ministry could do a better job than the Teaching Council to improve initial teacher education.
“The Ministry has neither the capability, nor does it have the confidence of the profession to take on this role.”
ENDS
You can read the open letter here.
The letter was sent to Minister Stanford on Sunday 9 November.