Labour

Taxpayers will fork out another $2 million for auditors to deal with the mountain of complications created by Novopay, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins has revealed.

The Government should lift its veil of secrecy surrounding the establishment of charter schools and be up-front with the public about who has applied to set them up, says Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins.

Education Minister Hekia Parata still hasn’t explained how the government is going to fill the $114 million hole left in the education budget as a result of her backdown on bigger class sizes, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

News that Novopay is here to stay comes as no surprise given the system’s hasty implementation has left the government with little option but to ride out the difficulties, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins said.

Charter school teachers should have the same qualifications and accountabilities as those in public schools, says Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins.

Legislation setting up charter schools is expected to pass through Parliament with the support of National, Act and the Maori Party.

The National Government's decision to slash the very successful Te Kotahitanga programme shows just how hollow its rhetoric about improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged students really is, says Chris Hipkins, Labour's Education spokesperson.

If perennial fence-sitter Peter Dunne has pulled support for charter schools there can be no argument that this is bad policy, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“Mr Dunne’s announcement this morning that he will vote against legislation to establish Charter Schools is welcome. I am urging the Maori Party to re-think their position too.

School staff and the public will be dumbfounded this afternoon at being asked to stomach yet another major mistake by Novopay provider Talent2, says Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins.

“After eight months of on-going debacles it is time the Government stated plainly what steps it is taking to hold Talent2 to account for its on-going failures.

Hekia Parata’s decision to roll-out Novopay has now cost taxpayers as much in six months as it would have cost over six years to keep the previous teachers’ payroll system running, says Chris Hipkins, Labour’s Education spokesperson

Speech to the Auckland Primary Principals Association

Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.

This is the first opportunity I’ve had to address a larger audience of education professionals since I formally took up the role as Labour’s Education spokesperson.