Major Labour Party effort on hot education topics

By Alan Tristram

The Labour Party is holding a major meeting education in Kapiti this week — with two leading figures from the education world on the speaking list.

Labour’s, Education Spokesman ,Chris Hipkins– considered one of the party’s most effective MP’s — will be accompanied by a leading university educationalist, Professor John O’Neill. He’s an expert on  teaching policy and child poverty.

The main theme is how education standards can be raised — but all issues will be up for discussion.

 

Bruce Taylor, a spokesperson for the Labour Party branches in Kapiti, says: “How can our schools raise student achievement? What can be done about the ‘long tail’ of underachievement?” These questions are often discussed in our community and many answers are put forward. But the conflicting opinions put forward can just confuse people,.”

So, he says, a public meeting  will be held on Friday 24 May 2013 at the Senior Citizens Hall, 45 Ocean Road, Paraparaumu Beach, commencing at 7.30pm.

Mr Hipkins and Professor O’Neill have been invited to consider which approaches to raising student achievement stack up and have a good chance of working and which approaches don’t, Mr Taylor says.

These approaches include policies such as charter schools, performance pay, quality teachers, moves to provide every student with an Ipad, a longer school day and national standards.

“Everyone in Kapiti who is interested in education, including parents and teachers, is invited to attend, says Bruce Taylor.

He stresses  there will be plenty of time for discussion and questions and that everyone is welcome.

The meeting has been organized by the Labour party branches in Kapiti.