“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, Bruce Taylor, a spokesperson for the Labour Party branches in Kāpiti, said today.
A public meeting to discuss these issues will be held on Friday 24 May 2013 at the Senior Citizens Hall, 45 Ocean Road, Paraparaumu Beach, commencing at 7.30pm. The guest speakers will be Chris Hipkins, MP for Rimutaka and Labour spokesperson on education and Professor John O’Neill of Massey University, a specialist in educational policy and a frequent media commentator on current educational issues.
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 stack up, Mr Taylor said. These approaches include policies such as charter schools, performance pay, quality teachers, every student having an Ipad, a longer school day and national standards.
Everyone in Kāpiti who is interested in education, including parents and teachers, is invited to attend this public meeting. Bruce Taylor stressed that there will be plenty of time for discussion and questions and that everyone is welcome.
The meeting has been organised by the Labour party branches in Kāpiti. Media are welcome to attend and report the meeting.
