Questions for Oral Answer

I seek leave to hold this question over until the Minister of Education is present and available to answer it.

Leave is sought for that course of action. Is there any objection? There is objection.

Schools, Partnership—Operation and Accountability Standards

1. to the Minister of Education: Is it still her strategy in education to “focus on teaching and learning quality” and “transparent accountabilities”?

on behalf of the Minister of Education: As set out in the statement of intent, yes, along with reliable and meaningful information for teachers and parents, and investing in 21st century learning environments.

💬 Hon Nanaia Mahuta: Will the policies and procedures for how charter schools are run, managed, and deliver educational benefits to students be open to public scrutiny and accountability, or will these terms and conditions be hidden away in sponsor contracts?

Our partnership schools will be held accountable.

💬 Grant Robertson: But not through the OIA.

They will be held to account by a fixed-term contract that specifies the educational outcomes that they have to meet, and will also provide emergency powers for the Secretary for Education to take over the school where students’ educational or physical welfare is at risk. The Education Review Office will conduct regular reviews based on the sponsor’s contract, and all partnership schools with students in years 1 to 8 will be required to report on progress and achievement against national standards.

💬 Hon Nanaia Mahuta: What criteria will be used to determine the funding and staffing level provisions for charter schools?

Each school’s contract will differ according to the needs of the sponsor, but, in fact, the partnership schools will negotiate with the Crown for a proportion of the staff not to be registered as a teacher—but that does not mean that they will be unqualified.

💬 Hon Nanaia Mahuta: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was very specific. It asked for the criteria that will determine the funding and staffing level provision for charter schools. She did not attempt to outline the criteria.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: I believe the Minister said they would be in the contract, and would differ for each school.

💬 Hon Nanaia Mahuta: Is it her intention to standardise non-registration of teachers in both charter and public schools; if not, why does she believe that public schools should have fully qualified teachers but charter schools should not?

Once again the member is confusing unregistered with unqualified. Partnership schools will negotiate with the Crown for a proportion of the staff not to be registered as a teacher, and this does not mean that they are unqualified. In public schools there are early childhood educators, volunteers, teachers under the limited authority to teach category, tertiary educators, trade course teachers, and staff at private training establishments who are teaching at schools now but are not registered with the Teachers Council.

💬 Hon Nanaia Mahuta: In light of that answer, does the Minister believe that a prerequisite for registration is teacher qualification?

It is irrelevant what the Minister believes. The Teachers Council actually requires a registration.

Economic Growth and Job Support—Progress and Reports

2. to the Minister of Finance: What progress is the Government making in supporting jobs and economic growth?

on behalf of the Minister of Finance: The National-led Government has taken a number of steps to support jobs and economic growth. This includes support for investment through the Business Growth Agenda, rebalancing tax to favour work and savings, and removing 170 unnecessary and excessive regulations, saving an estimated $200 million in business compliance costs. In addition, today is expected to be the first reading of the Minimum Wage (Starting-out Wage) Amendment Bill. This provides a new starting-out wage for a number of young New Zealanders to give them the chance to get their foot on the rung of the job ladder. The starting-out wage ensures that young Kiwis will have greater opportunities in a competitive job market to earn money and gain vital skills and experience they need to succeed. It is yet another campaign promise National is delivering on.

💬 Maggie Barry: What reports has he seen on New Zealand prospects for economic and job growth?

I have seen a report from the International Monetary Fund that includes the latest forecasts for the world’s 34 OECD economies. As the member will know, it is economic growth that produces job growth. The latest IMF forecast has New Zealand growing by 2.2 percent this year and by an average of 2.9 percent over the next 2 years. On average, we are ranked eighth out of the 34 OECD nations, so we are in the top quarter for economic growth prospects. In terms of the unemployment rate, we currently have the 14th lowest rate of the 34 OECD nations, and the IMF forecasts that over the next 5 years our unemployment rate will continue to drop.

💬 Maggie Barry: What other reports has he seen on the progress being made by the Government’s economic policy?

In just the last week, one of the top financial advisers of the American President, Mr Barack Obama, Peter Orszag, participated in a major international debate on rescuing the world economies from a deepening crisis. Among the panellists was the IMF’s Christine Lagarde, and the German Finance Minister. Remarkably, Obama’s former director of the Office of Management and Budget singled out New Zealand as the only country that has provided the right balance of stimulus for the economy with reducing the deficit in the medium term. This is a very strong endorsement from one of the world’s top financial experts. New Zealand’s combination of positive economic growth and deficit reduction is rare amongst Western nations, and reinforces that we are taking New Zealand through and out of the world’s global financial and debt crisis.

Question time interrupted.