Urgent Debates Declined — Ministry of Education—NCEA Literacy and Numeracy Pilot, Release of Results

I received a letter from Erica Stanford seeking to debate, under Standing Order 399, the release of results of the 2022 NCEA literacy and numeracy pilot. The release of results by the Ministry of Education is a particular case of recent occurrence for which there is ministerial responsibility. An urgent debate is a way of holding the Government accountable for an action—Speaker’s ruling 200/4. Ms Stanford stated in her application that the Government has made no formal statements around the release of the results. While the release of the report may warrant an urgent debate, this must be exceptional, especially where working through a report’s recommendations may take some time—Speaker’s ruling 208/6. I do not consider that the release of the results itself warrants the immediate attention of the House by way of urgent debate. The application is therefore declined.

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