New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key Smiles After the General Election in Auckland.
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key smiles after the general election in Auckland November 26, 2011. Reuters/Stringer

The New Zealand government's attention to improve teaching quality in the country is showing good results. This was stated by Education Minister Hekia Parata during her visit to New Plymouth on Wednesday. Quoting the minister, stuff.co.nz reported that the $359-million education plan unveiled by Prime Minister John Key was more about raising teaching quality.

Parata's itinerary in the city included visits to Waitara High School, New Plymouth School and St Joseph's School.

Role Model Project

The minister visited Build a Bach site where students from five high schools are undergoing a training programme to gain work experience. The minister hailed the project as a role model for the rest of New Zealand in terms of its contribution to tertiary education and to the communities by way of working together to offer pathways and skills development.

Hekia Parata called "Build a Bach" project exciting and said it was great to see secondary schools collaborating and tapping the potential for young people.

The education minister noted that the National Policy on Education has parents in mind as the pivot for achievement in schools. In the process, right selection of teachers is important who are able to mentor their peers well.

The national policy on education is not just about hiking the number of teachers, but it is also about adding quality to teaching.

Under the John Key government, the recruitment of teachers went up 15 per cent, while the growth of student intake was less than one per cent, the minister noted. The government is investing heavily in the quality of teaching, Perata claimed.

Labour Party Stand

In a recent election speech at Auckland, Labour Party leader David Cuncliffe also shared the thought of his party in terms of restructuring the education sector by improving the teaching standards.

Cunliffe also promised world-class education for all Kiwi kids and access to digital devices as part of the 21st century learning. The Labour leader also assured reduced class sizes and hiring of 2,000 more teachers, if his party came to power. David Cunliffe summed up Labour's vision of education in three words-- excellence, opportunity and fairness.