NZEI Te Riu Roa has expressed serious concerns over representation and transparency after the Ministry of Education published the membership of its newly formed Teaching Standards Expert Advisory Group (EAG) this afternoon.
“We are deeply concerned that the sector and peak bodies were excluded from discussions to establish this group, especially since our members must meet these standards to maintain their registration,” NZEI Te Riu Roa President Ripeka Lessels said.
“The Ministry has handpicked this group without sector consultation. Because of this, teachers lack confidence that their professional voices will be heard when these critical standards are reshaped.”
Mrs Lessels noted that the majority of the EAG’s 10 members are researchers, former teachers, or policy consultants rather than educators working daily inside New Zealand classrooms.
“While secondary and intermediate schools each have a representative, the advisory group lacks a current primary school principal or primary teacher to provide insights for early years schooling,” Mrs Lessels said.
“The membership reflects a clear shift toward private and commercial interests. Two members helped establish separate private teacher education providers, while another chairs an organisation representing a significant portion of the private, for-profit Early Childhood Education sector. This raises the risk that commercial business interests will be prioritised over public education standards.
“They have even included an Australian academic whose experience is primarily based overseas instead of drawing on the expertise in our local schools and kura.”
Following the passage of the Education System Reform Bill, standard-setting responsibilities shifted from the Teaching Council to the Ministry of Education.
In an email to NZEI Te Riu Roa, the Ministry confirmed it finalised the EAG membership without sector input, saying it had “invited a small group of independent experts.”
The Ministry also noted that the group has no formal relationship with NZEI Te Riu Roa or the wider sector, and will directly advise the Secretary for Education.