Catholic principals oppose Teaching Council changes

The Catholic Principals Association, NZEI Te Riu Roa, PPTA Te Wehengarua and seven other organisations wrote an open letter to the Minister of Education saying she had removed the council’s independence.

Erica Stanford announced last week that the council’s governing board would be reorganised so it had a majority of ministerial appointees and its responsibilities for professional standards and initial teacher education would be moved to the Ministry of Education.

The Public Service Commission has been investigating the council’s management of procurement and conflicts of interest. Teaching Council chief executive Lesley Hoskin has been on agreed leave during the investigation. Ms Stanford said multiple investigations are underway.

The Government said the changes would bring the council’s governance in line with similar bodies such as the Nursing Council. But the open letter said the changes “represent a fundamental shift in professional autonomy and independence”.

It said the signatories had already warned “that direct political control of professional programmes and standards by Ministers through the Ministry would be an over-reach and was tantamount to political interference”.

Principals’ Federation president Leanne Otene said teaching standards should be set by its professionals, not bureaucrats.

“The professional standards for our teachers should be set by teachers, just like medical standards are set by doctors,” she said.

Ms Otene said the change removed the professional voice of more than 100,000 teachers and education leaders.

“Ulitmately that puts the quality of teaching and learning for our students at risk.”

FULL STORY

Education groups oppose minister’s Teaching Council shake-up (By John Gerritsen/Radio New Zealand)