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The Green Party on Education

Education has emerged as a key concern in recent general elections and provides significant points of contrast between the main political parties. The issue is regularly one of the top three issues for voters in opinion polls. The future of state education, the suitability of the national curriculum, and the funding of higher education have all become key issues as the 2010 general election approaches.

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The issues

The Green Party strongly supports NCEA

The Greens support the NCEA system.

The Green Party strongly opposes bulk-funding of schools

The Green Party opposes the bulk funding of teacher and support staff salaries, “as it is inconsistent with the provision of high quality education for every student”.

The Green Party supports providing 20 hours of free early childhood education

The Green Party supports the provision of 20 free hours of early childhood education for children over 3, but is concerned about public money going to private service providers. “Funding should be extended to parent-led kohanga reo and Playcentres in consultation with the sector”.

The Green Party strongly supports universal allowances for tertiary students

The Green Party supports a universal allowance for tertiary students, saying higher education should be made equally accessible to all.

The Green Party strongly opposes education vouchers for school pupils to be able to go to their school of choice

The Green Party opposes the introduction of education vouchers for school pupils.

The Green Party strongly supports bonding graduates to remain in New Zealand in return for a partial write-off of their student loan

The Greens say they “would introduce a debt write-off scheme so that, at the end of your studies, each year a person stays in Aotearoa and contributes to society through paid or unpaid full time work, a year’s worth of debt will be written off”.