Jenny Marcroft
Wellington, December 13, 2017
New Zealand First wants to lift the public status of teachers and protect the title of ‘Teacher’ in recognition of its professional status, New Zealand First MP Jenny Marcroft said today.
Her member’s bill to do this – previously under Tracey Martin’s name – was drawn from the ballot today.
Ms Marcroft issued the following Statement.
The previous National Government, with support of the ACT Party and Maori Party, continued to amend the Education Act to allow individuals without in-depth teacher training to market themselves as ‘teachers’ to parents and students.
Status attacked
We see this as an attack on the status of our teachers. We also believe that parents should be 100% confident that anyone using the title of teacher has successfully completed the appropriate qualifications to support their students learning.
The previous government allowed Charter Schools to put untrained and unqualified individuals into classrooms and call themselves teachers.
Great identification
The previous Education Amendment Bill allowed well-meaning degree graduates to use the title of teacher while they are in affect teaching apprentices.
Under the New Zealand First bill all parents can be assured that if their child has a ‘teacher’ then they are being taught by an educational specialist. By providing this simple method of identification parents truly have choice when it comes to who is leading the learning in their child’s education.
Jenny Marcroft is Member of Parliament on New Zealand First Party List.
