Smaller Class Sizes, Shorter Year.

Yeh, right. This will really really help our children 'acquire an education.'

"The main findings from Educationcounts were:
On an average daily basis, the 2006 survey indicated an overall absence rate of 11.5 percent with a truancy rate of 4.1 percent. In 2006, the overall absence and truancy rates were higher across all schools compared with 2004. Overall absence rate increased from 9% in 2004 to 11.5% in 2006 ,and truancy rate from 3.4% in 2004 to 4.1% in 2006."

Now I believe this transcribed to 43,000 absences/truants a week plus 30,000 stand downs/suspensions a year. This is a substantial reduction in class sizes ... not that smaller class size has ever been shown in the research to improve learning outcomes.

Māori and Pasifika students had higher truancy rates when compared with New Zealand European and Asian students, a result also noted in the 2004 report.

& I am sure that Ms Turei has little to add, simply endeavouring to enhance the notion of 'white guilt' for absolutely unacceptable behaviour - trying to 'gain mileage' out of the death of a two year old is 'pretty sick' cross culturally, in fact so unacceptable that attribution of blame becomes paramount.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfmc_id=1501154&objectid=10448409

Sort of trying to sanctify the behaviour of/give credibility to those that have opted out of our education system ... I am sure to the relief of our teachers ... but it just keeps on happening, a cumulative phenomenon that with the burgeoning 'maori for maori' services in education and health has had the overall effect of these services doing a disservice to their own and continues to do so at an alarming rate ... and this from Gore to Whakatane, in fact many, many places.

... and what has happened about the mandate that all teachers be registerd by last year I believe it was???