Maritime Union backs teachers stance on national standards

The Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and is back­ing teach­ers demand­ing the new nation­al stand­ards for schools exper­i­ment be tri­alled.

Mari­time Uni­on Gen­er­al Sec­ret­ary Joe Fleet­wood says mari­time work­ers were at Par­lia­ment today to sup­port a NZEI organ­ized rally.

“I was impressed with the atti­tude and know­ledge of the teach­ers and par­ents there and their con­cern for the future of the New Zea­l­and edu­ca­tion sys­tem.”

He says the Mari­time Uni­on is espe­cially con­cerned about the effect of the nation­al stand­ards on work­ing class chil­dren and chil­dren from dis­ad­vant­aged back­grounds.

“One more effect­ive way the Gov­ern­ment could help school chil­dren’s achieve­ment is by put­ting more resources into edu­ca­tion, but they seem more inter­ested in tax cuts for multi mil­lion­aires.”

Mr Fleet­wood says it seems the Nation­al Gov­ern­ment is try­ing to save face over a flawed policy rather than improve the edu­ca­tion sys­tem.

“Obvi­ously there is wide­spread con­cern from teach­ers and prin­cipals, par­ents and edu­ca­tion experts, who are the people who edu­cate and care for chil­dren every day, so the Gov­ern­ment could just tri­al the sys­tem to see wheth­er nation­al stand­ards actu­ally work.”

Mr Fleet­wood says it appears the Gov­ern­ment is not listen­ing to the real experts – teach­ers and par­ents.

“A Gov­ern­ment which does not listen to the work­ers at the coal­face is a Gov­ern­ment that has lost touch. It did­n’t take this Nation­al Gov­ern­ment long to lose touch.”

ENDS

For more inform­a­tion con­tact Mari­time Uni­on Gen­er­al Sec­ret­ary Joe Fleet­wood on 021364649