Christian social services oppose narrower school board focus

The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS), which includes Catholic Social Services, made a submission on the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No. 2) to Parliament’s Education and Workforce Committee.

Current education law has four primary obligations for school boards, concerning educational achievement, school safety, student rights and Te Tiriti O Waitangi.

Among various changes in education, the Bill amends the objectives for school boards in governing schools by making educational achievement the paramount objective, while retaining the other objectives as supporting objectives, which are defined as essential and supporting the paramount objective.

The NZCCSS submission supports a “holistic understanding of education and expresses concern that the reprioritisation of objectives for school boards . . . will result in practice in a diminished focus on proposed supporting objectives, such as ensuring schools have a focus on giving effect to Te Tiriti, are physically and emotionally safe places for students and staff, and are inclusive of, and cater for, students with differing needs”.

The NZCCSS pointed to research on middle childhood (ages 5-12) that highlights the need for children to be supported holistically in their development, including in relation to social and emotional learning, play and developing a sense of belonging.

The submission expressed concern that reprioritising school board objectives to favour academic achievement risked further exacerbating challenges and inequities in access to education, especially with regard to mental health and learning and behavioural difficulties, impacting on children’s educational engagement, overall development and wellbeing.

Therefore, the NZCCSS recommended the retention of the four primary objectives.

The NZCCSS recommended school boards give effect to student rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as what is currently required by the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and the Human Rights Act 1993.

“As noted in the Regulatory Impact Statement, explicit reference to these rights within the Act provides a lever for advocacy and enforcement of rights,” the submission noted.

Attendance management in schools should prioritise identifying and addressing barriers to attendance rather than enforcing punitive measures, the submission added.

FULL STORY

Education & training amendment bill (no. 2) (NZCCSS/New Zealand Parliament)

Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) 140-1 (2025), Government Bill Explanatory note – New Zealand Legislation (New Zealand Parliament)

Education amendment Bill enters Parliament – Inside Government NZ (Inside Government NZ)

Education and Training Act 2020 No 38 (as at 01 October 2024), Public Act 127 Objectives of boards in governing schools – New Zealand Legislation (New Zealand Parliament)