Labour MP Trevor Mallard says you'd be doing well to find someone who increased their popularity through being Education Minister.

Current Education Minister Hekia Parata announced yesterday she won't contest the next election, but says she'll stay in the role for as long as she's needed until then.

Mr Mallard, himself a former Education Minister, says taking on the education portfolio is "not one that generally results in someone becoming popular".

"You'd have to go back 75 years to find someone who enhanced their popularity through being Minister of Education," he said.

"It's probably because everyone's got an opinion on education - we've all been to school, many of us have got kids at school."

LISTEN ABOVE: Labour MP and former Education Minister Trevor Mallard speaks with Mike Hosking