Challenging times ahead

''Challenging times'' lie ahead as Hekia Parata once again takes the leads at the Ministry of Education, Otago principals say.

Otago Secondary Principals' Association secretary Gordon Wilson said the Government's flagship Investing in Educational Success policy would be high on the association's agenda in the coming months.

The Government plans to spend an extra $360 million over four years to identify the best principals and teachers, and pay them more to spend time in other local schools or provide an example within their own.

The four new roles would work across a cluster of 10-12 schools.

However, schools that do not want to be involved can opt out.

''While we agree with the broad principles, we are mindful that implementation needs a strong local input,'' Mr Wilson said.

''We hope the minister will understand that and allow some flexibility within that key government policy.

''While we will not necessarily agree on all issues and the direction of the current Government, we are hopeful they will continue to have dialogue with secondary principals, because they are an important part of the sector.

''There will certainly be challenging times ahead.

Otago Primary Principals' Association chairwoman Stephanie Madden said it was not surprising Ms Parata had been reappointed as Education Minister.

She too believed there would be several challenges ahead in ''the current environment of change'', and professionals within the sector would continue to hope Ms Parata would engage in meaningful consultation with them.

''We've got challenging times ahead as schools try to find some common ground around government policies.''

 

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement