Megan Woods
The New Zealand Education Institution has delivered a
petition signed by more than 11,000 Canterbury teachers calling
for the Government's plans for the future of education in
Christchurch to be stopped.
Labour Party MP for Wigram, Megan Woods, tabled the petition
in Parliament today calling on Prime Minister John Key to
stop the plan to close, merge and relocate Christchurch
schools.
Ms Woods said Education Minister Hekia Parata's plan for the
future of Canterbury schools had been bungled from the
beginning, and the anger teachers were directing at the
Government was justified.
The petition urges the Government to listen to students and
educators in the region about what is best for learning.
"The message from teachers is loud and clear; the Government
has stuffed-up and if it wants to fix things, it needs to
start by listening," said Ms Woods.
She said the plan had been imposed on teachers in
Christchurch, and proper input had not been sought. "The
Government is forcing Christchurch schools down a path that
not only harms the fantastic education system we have in the
city, but ignores a raft of positive ideas put forward as
worthy alternatives.
"This petition should be a wake-up call for John Key and his
Ministers. They need to swallow their pride and start working
with teachers, principals and parents to find a positive way
forward," Ms Woods said.
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