More than 1000 primary teachers will voice their concerns
when they meet to discuss the Government's education agenda
in Dunedin's Regent Theatre on Monday.
They will be among thousands of primary teachers nationwide
who will have similar meetings during the next two weeks.
New Zealand Educational Institute national president Ian
Leckie said there was very real concern the Government's
policies would damage the quality of the country's public
education system.
These issues were being raised by teachers as part of their
current collective agreement talks with the Ministry of
Education, he said.
"The ministry has made an offer which we believe is linked to
a business model of education driven by cost-cutting and
competition.
"What's at stake here is our world-renowned public education
system, based on equity and providing good education for all
children."
Mr Leckie said the Government's policies were based on an
agenda known as the Global Education Reform Movement (Germ)
which had already failed to improve pupil learning in other
countries.
The ideologically driven policies were based around
competition, databased accountability, standardisation and
supposed choice.
"We're seeing Germ creeping into our education system here
through National Standards, league tables and charter schools
and proposals of performance pay for teachers.
"These offers are not just an attack on teachers but the
whole of our education system as we know it," he said.
As well as meetings throughout the country, there will also
be a series of larger gatherings in Auckland, Hamilton,
Wellington and Dunedin.
A demonstration was expected to be held in the Octagon on
Monday afternoon after the meeting in the Regent Theatre.
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