When Paula Bennett announced her Child Protection policy on Tuesday, including increased screening and vetting of people working with children, Hipkins was quick to criticise. He put out this presser:
Child protection policies must extend to charter schools
Child protection policies must extend to charter schools
If the Government is genuinely committed to doing everything possible to ensure children are safe it will make sure charter schools’ teachers face the same rigorous checks that those in state schools do, says Labour’s Education Spokesperson Chris Hipkins.
“Paula Bennett has argued that we need to do everything possible to ensure children are in safe hands. I agree, and that’s why I’m concerned the government aren’t requiring charter school teachers to meet rigorous teacher registration requirements.
“There are few people who spend more time with our children than our teachers. That is why it is critical the Minister is upfront about what security checks will be in place for all teachers, including those in charter schools.
“We already know that teachers in charter schools do not need to be qualified, and that sponsors of charter schools will have a great deal of influence over staffing without requirements to be transparent about their decision making.
“Parents deserve assurances that all schools will uphold stringent safety standards and protocols.
“There are too many question marks around the set-up of charter schools. Just last year the Minister was advised that; ‘[the] potential for a negative impact on students’ education from teachers who do not meet the minimum standards for the profession is high’.
“The Government must ensure there is adequate oversight in place for these children. It must assure New Zealanders the process that charter school teachers go through is as robust as that planned for other state sector employees,” Chris Hipkins said.
Now we all know that Chris Hipkins detests the whole concept of Partnership Schools (which he continues to refer to as Charter Schools, and once even Ghetto Schools). But he is totally wrong on this attack line, and Associate Education Minister John Banks has schooled him with a presser in response:
John Banks
14 August, 2013
Hipkins wrong – PSKH employees will be vetted
Labour MP Chris Hipkins is wrong - Partnership Schools | Kura Hourua will be subject to the new child protection policies announced yesterday, Associate Education Minister John Banks said today.
“The Vulnerable Children’s Bill will require all Crown-funded or Crown-contracted organisations who work with children – which includes Partnership Schools - to comply with the vetting and screening requirements of the legislation,” Mr Banks said.
“Under the Education Act 1989, Partnership Schools are subject to the same requirements as state schools with regard to the vetting of teaching and non-teaching staff members.
“This is not the first time Mr Hipkins has made false claims about the Partnership School policy – he is wrong when he says teachers won’t be qualified and he can’t even get the name right.
“I suggest he spends more time fact checking and less time scaremongering,” Mr Banks said.
ENDS
We could not agree more. Chris Hipkins seems to be a graduate from the John Campbell School for Scandal and Scaremongering, and we saw last night what happened when the founder of that institution came up against the facts. Maybe Mr Hipkins needs to spend more time at school, so that he can work on his reading and comprehension skills and spare himself further embarrassment.
After all, could there not be a greater indignity for any aspiring Labour politician than to be schooled by John Banks?
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