10. SUE MORONEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
How many letters has the Ministry of Education sent to schools in the past eight weeks requiring a specific statement that refers to National Standards to be included in their charters?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
How many of those school boards of trustees have submitted their charter along with a statement that they have submitted the required national standards targets under duress?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
I am not sure how many boards have put “under duress” on their charters, but I am advised that of the 1,942 charters that have been analysed, 93 percent are compliant.
Mr SPEAKERDid the Ministry of Education’s planned training of limited statutory managers go ahead yesterday; if so, how many people undertook that training?
Does she think that a recent edict from her Ministry of Education that students with English as a second language and those funded by the Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Scheme be included in national standards data will make schools more welcoming of those students or more likely to avoid enrolling them?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
I think that schools, boards of trustees, and teachers are all there to try to benefit children and to make sure that they are doing well, whether or not they are under Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Scheme funding or have special needs. I am very confident that they see those children as individuals with individual needs.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I specifically asked a question about whether the Minister saw the inclusion of students funded by the Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Scheme and those with English as a second language in national standards data as helping schools to make students more welcome or as making schools more likely to avoid enrolling them. The Minister made no reference at all to including them in the national standards data.
Hon Simon PowerThe Minister did specifically answer the question by saying words to the effect that she would expect them to be welcomed into the school whether or not they are funded by the Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Scheme, and that they would be treated as individuals by the boards, staff, and everybody else who is at the school.
I think that is a fair point. The question asked an opinion, and the Minister gave her opinion, which was pretty close to the question asked.
I seek leave to table a letter dated 24 August 2011 from the Ministry of Education to schools stating: “The amendment required to your school charter is to include the following target”.
I seek leave to table a letter from the Ministry of Education, from an organisation known as the national standards inquiry team, informing schools of national standards and reporting to parents on the progress and achievement of students who are English language learners.