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MPs schooled first-hand on work of teacher aides

Author
Jacqui Stanford,
Publish Date
Mon, 1 May 2017, 5:28AM
Labour leader Andrew Little will help out at a Wellington school to learn more about teacher aides' work (Getty Images).
Labour leader Andrew Little will help out at a Wellington school to learn more about teacher aides' work (Getty Images).

MPs schooled first-hand on work of teacher aides

Author
Jacqui Stanford,
Publish Date
Mon, 1 May 2017, 5:28AM

It's back to the classroom for a raft of MPs today, where they will be schooled about the work of support staff.

Twenty MPs and another 20 candidates from across the political spectrum will start the term by stepping into the shoes of teacher aides and support staff.

The job-swap initiative is being arranged by the NZEI to show the value of school support staff. The NZEI is also seeking signatures for its petition for better funding to retain staff, which has nearly 50,000 supporters.

The union's President Linda Stuart said the MPs and candidates jobs could include "working one to one with a child who has special needs, it could be supporting in the office, it could be as a librarian".

Labour leader Andrew Little will help at Wellington's Island Bay School, which is where his wife works part-time.

He said he's looking forward to seeing how support staff help improve the education environment.

"If we start cutting back the teacher aide roles, then we put at risk the best quality education that we want our kids to have, because that's what prepares them for success in the future."

Ms Stuart said incoming Education Minister Nikki Kaye isn't among those taking part today. She added other MPs are taking part later, or when it suits them.

"She hasn't signed up yet as far as I know, but there's still time."

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