6. KELVIN DAVIS (Labour) Link to this
to the Associate Minister of Education
Does he stand by all his statements?
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Associate Minister of Education) Link to this
I stand by 99.98 percent of them.
Which of his statements does he stand by: the one that national standards are dangerous for Māori; the one that national standards are OK; the one where he told his staff kura kaupapa Māori did not believe in national standards and neither did he, and that he was fundamentally opposed to them; or the one where he said he was, again, comfortable with them but was still worried about league tables?
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES Link to this
Those are the 0.02 percent! I stand by all those statements, which were made at different times. Initially, when I had no documentation, I was scared of the league tables; as I got information and consultation, I moved to support them.
What has he learnt since he stated he was opposed to national standards that has caused him to now find them acceptable?
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES Link to this
My main fear was the intrusion on the tino rangatiratanga of each kura kaupapa Māori, because kura kaupapa Māori not only have to teach education; they have to teach two languages, as well. So it is very local. As we developed a consultation process, and iwi, the schools, and the families were allowed input, I was satisfied to let it go.
Can he confirm that he is concerned only about Māori students in kura kaupapa Māori, and not the 141,000 other Māori students in mainstream schools, and that he is quite comfortable leaving them and their parents to deal with the implementation of national standards, which he himself called dangerous?
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES Link to this
I can confirm that I care not only for every Māori student but for every Pākehā student, every Indian student, and every Chinese student—every student in school. But I have a particular responsibility in these matters for kura kaupapa Māori children.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
What was the detail of the assurance he was given by the Prime Minister in relation to the publication of league tables?
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES Link to this
I cannot remember the details of it. I still oppose league tables being published by, for example, the media after their own private investigations, but I understand that the Government has no intention of publishing league tables.