The changing face of education

Education Minister Chris Hipkins seems determined to change the face of New Zealand education at every level, convinced he and his teacher union backers have the answers to questions yet to be asked.

Hot on the heels of his determination to rid New Zealand of the private charter schools, despite two of his Maori MP colleagues having ties to charter schools, Mr Hipkins has announced an ‘‘ambitious’’ three-year work programme for education.

Mr Hipkins says New Zealand has an education system to be proud of but as the way we work and live continues to rapidly change, so, too, do the demands on our education system.

Over the next three years, it is possible to make significant progress in changing the education system to provide for all New Zealanders, he says.

The work programme includes the NCEA review, a review of Tomorrow’s Schools, developing a future-focused education workforce strategy, a continuous focus on raising achievement for Maori and Pasifika learners, an action plan for learning support, an early learning strategic plan and a comprehensive review of school property.

Within the programme are some crucial elements it is hoped Mr Hipkins will focus on, particularly around developing an education workforce strategy.

New Zealand is not training the skilled tradespeople it needs to build Labour’s 10,000 houses a year or even plant New Zealand First’s billion trees, something it needs to do urgently.

However, the complete overhaul of the education system seems too much too soon. The review also includes a programme of change for vocational education, a full review of the Performance Based Research Fund and better support for the research aspirations of the tertiary sector.

There has been no indication from Mr Hipkins on the fate of elected boards of trustees but reports from Wellington indicate they will be disbanded under the review.

Boards of trustees have a heavy workload but they do give parents direct representation on how their school operates. A return to central control of schools from an education authority or ministry will be a step backwards in democracy.

It is time for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Mr Hipkins to start becoming more open with their plans for education. Establishing any government task force inevitably means reaching a conclusion already formulated at the highest level.

If there is a plan, now is the time to reveal it. Rushing headlong into change just because Mr Hipkins is ideologically opposed to something a previous government implemented, is not the way to operate when it comes to education.

The term ‘‘refreshing strategies’’ is political speak for imposing solutions without taking much notice of any public submissions.

Universities have warned fees-free study may push some students to apply for courses they are unlikely to pass. Universities say they will be forced to ask for hundreds of thousands of dollars of extra funding to help meet an administrative burden accompanying the policy.

Mr Hipkins flatly rejected any request for cash saying the vast bulk of administration is done by the Tertiary Education Commission. The Government is spending nearly $3 billion on the fees-free policy but is rejecting calls from university heads for help with its implementation.

These are hardly the actions of a man who is prepared to listen to the community about their particular education needs.

National correctly says the review is unfair and disruptive to students, parents and teachers— only because each new government likes to fiddle with education. National has been just as guilty in the past.

Studies abound into why parts of the education system are failing. Perhaps it is time to start adopting some of the many recommendations that will already be floating around various departmental offices.

Labour has always marketed itself as a party of inclusion across race, age, gender and identity. The changes being proposed for education do not feel that way.

It will be far better for Mr Hipkins to concentrate on one significant project, allow open and uncensored feedback, see it through completely, measure its success, and move on carefully.