Labour doubles down, puts ideology ahead of student outcomes

“Labour’s plan to reinstate Treaty obligations for school boards risks shifting focus away from what matters most in schools: student outcomes,” says ACT Education spokesperson Laura McClure.

“All children deserve to leave school able to read, write and do maths. This is why we have education: to give the next generation the skills they need to succeed in life.

“When Wellington forces politically loaded Treaty obligations onto school boards, we push educational outcomes down the priority list.

“School boards are made up of parents and community members who step up to support their local schools. We shouldn’t demand them to interpret unclear and contested Treaty principles.

“Of course, schools can already choose to teach Māori language and local histories. What Labour wants to add is compulsion, reshaping local schools according to its own ideology, rather than trusting educators and families on the ground.

“ACT opposes the hijacking of the school system for politics and social engineering. We will always put educational achievement first for every single child, regardless of their background.

“Labour also wants to abolish charter schools that are delivering choice for kids let down by the mainstream system, and they want to remove prosecution as a penalty for serious non-attendance. Again, these policies will harm student outcomes. What makes these moves especially wrong, and ironic coming from Labour, is that the worst impacts would be on the most under-privileged students.”