Unlocking the potential of the next generation

“Every young Kiwi will get the opportunity for a quality education with ACT's education policy. We'll lift achievement, restore order to classrooms, expand school choice, reduce costs for families, and give students the practical skills to unlock their potential,” says ACT Education spokesperson Laura McClure.

“Education has been a priority for ACT in Government. School attendance has been a massive issue in recent years, but since ACT took responsibility for that problem, nearly 180,000 more children were attending school regularly in term 1 this year than in 2022.

“Charter schools have shown students that education can be different, and given real choice to families. ACT will protect charter schools from Labour's attempts to shut them down, and expand that choice to more students.

“Farming is the backbone of the country and one of the biggest employers in the country. ACT will ensure agriculture remains a subject in the Year 11 school curriculum.

“We will ensure students leave school better prepared for life and give them practical financial skills by giving Year 11 students $500 to invest in a Sharesies-style account.

“ACT will also reduce costs and barriers across the education system. We'll make school uniforms more affordable by increasing access to generic uniform items and make life easier for rural families by allowing children to use spare seats on existing school bus routes. We already got Labour to back our school uniforms policy, and think every party should commit to giving parents more choice and bringing down costs.

“We'll also ensure publicly funded university support is available on the basis of merit or need and protect privately funded targeted scholarships.

"ACT will end the university-or-bust mentality," says ACT List Candidate Paul Henry.

"For years we've treated a degree as the only ticket to success, while the trades have been treated as second best. That's nonsense. New Zealand needs builders, electricians, welders, mechanics and apprentices more than it needs arts degree graduates.

"Young people should be free to choose the path that suits their talents and ambitions, not be pushed down the same conveyor belt.

"And while we're at it, let's stop sacrificing thirty students' education to one disruptive child. ACT will back teachers to remove persistently disruptive students from the classroom and strengthen parental responsibility for serious misconduct and deliberate damage to school property.

“Whether a student wants to learn a trade, attend university, join a charter school, or pursue a career in agriculture, ACT's education policies will give them more opportunities to succeed.

“We cannot unlock New Zealand's potential if we're wasting the potential of the next generation. Party Vote ACT to re-elect the Government and go further and faster on giving every young New Zealander the chance to succeed.”