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Govt's $217m education package a 'huge win' but won't stop strikes

Author
Newstakl ZB ,
Publish Date
Mon, 5 Nov 2018, 7:08AM
However, it's not enough to stop the rolling strike action from November 12 to November 16.

Govt's $217m education package a 'huge win' but won't stop strikes

Author
Newstakl ZB ,
Publish Date
Mon, 5 Nov 2018, 7:08AM

Teachers are labelling the Government's $217 million education package as a huge win but say it's not enough to stop strike action.

The package will fund 600 dedicated staff in primary and secondary schools to support children with special learning needs such as dyslexia, autism, physical disabilities and behavioural problems.

NZEI president Lynda Stuart told Kate Hawkesby it feels like the Government is finally listening to teachers.

"We have been crying out for this support for quite some time. It is a start and we are really delighted with that."

She said the extra money will give teachers the "time to teach". 

"What we have got at the moment is a time where those roles are actually happening in many of our schools across the country but they are not formalised."

"So what you have got is principals, deputy principals, classroom teachers are actually fulling these roles on top of their job. What this [the education poackage] does is formalises this job and allows these people to actually take on these roles."

However, it's not enough to stop the rolling strike action which will take place from November 12 to November 16.

Stuart said they start facilitation today and they hope it will bring some resolution. 

"We want to see a conversation that is well and truly out of the limelight so it gets it's very, very best shot. We go into it with open minds."

"Both parties are working with the facilitator at the end of the time period the facilitator will come forward with some recommendations, those recommendations need to be considered by our members and by the Ministry of Education."

LISTEN ABOVE AS LYNDA STUART SPEAKS WITH KATE HAWKESBY 

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