Labour Party - Education

Report shows student achievement up

24.07.2008

School leaver data released today by Education Minister Chris Carter shows that more students are leaving school with higher qualifications.

The annual Ministry of Education School Leavers Statistics show that 66 per cent of students leaving secondary school in 2007 achieved level 2 NCEA or above, up from 60 per cent in 2006.

"Since level 2 NCEA was introduced in 2003, more students are leaving school with the qualifications th... more +

School suspensions hit 8-year low

22.07.2008

Suspension rates in New Zealand schools have hit an eight year low, Education Minister Chris Carter announced today.

The figures have been published in the Ministry of Education's annual Student Engagement Report, which tracks suspensions, stand-downs, expulsions and exclusions.

The report released today shows that both total numbers and calculated rates continue to fall.

"Schools are making use o... more +

20 Hours Free not safe under Key

11.07.2008

The release of National Party policy on early childhood education has been done with little fanfare today to disguise the fact that National's leader John Key will not guarantee that the scheme will continue to be free for Kiwi parents, says Education Minister Chris Carter.

"The removal of the word 'free' from the policy should ring alarm bells for tens of thousands of mums and dads who have put their kids through the scheme, many of them saving hundreds of dollars a week through the provision of 20 Hours Free early childhood education," said Chris Carter. ... more +