来源：霍建强议员办公室   

新西兰孩子与家长们的胜利――国家党政府蒙羞最终让步 
 工党领袖 大卫·谢尔 （David Shearer）

迫于民间巨大压力，政府终于不得不放弃大班上课计划――这一颜面尽失的让步对于新西兰的孩子和他们的家长，却是胜利无疑。

我们很高兴教育部长最终总算明白了一些道理。然而一想到国家党竟然会以增加班级人数为法宝，还是令人觉得太不可思议。

国家党改变决策也明显出于政治目的，而不是因为他们真正为我国学童的利益着想。

教育部长贺琪亚·帕拉塔（Hekia Parata）说她是考虑到家长们“不成比例的焦虑”而作出推翻大班上课计划的决定。

这清楚证实了国家党其实仍然不认为他们的大班上课政策有什么错。政府还是没有明白增班级学生人数对于学生学习的破坏性有多大。

教育部长同时宣布政府现在要放弃对提高师资水平及职业领导力的投入。这表明他们就是把提升质量与增加班级人数当成交易来做。

国家党还是当教育作一项要削减的花销，而不是视之为对我国未来的投入。

经过这一次丢脸至极的政策大转弯，国家党对于新西兰教育已无公信力可言。家长与老师们将拭目以待这个政府对教育的下一轮砍伐。

无论哪一个政府，都应视教育投入为国家的头等大事――这也是我将领导的政府的立场。

在推出如此拙劣教育政策一事上，不单是教育部长，总理基一样难辞其咎。

David   
SHEARER
Labour Leader                       

07 June 2012                                                               MEDIA STATEMENT
Humiliating back-down a victory for Kiwi kids and parents

News of the Government’s humiliating back-down over its class size plans is a victory for Kiwi kids and their parents, Labour Leader David Shearer says.

“It is great that the Minister has finally seen some sense. But it is still mindboggling that National could have ever thought increasing class sizes was in any way a good idea.

“It is clear National has made this decision for political purposes, not because it is truly concerned about the best interest of our children.

“Hekia Parata says she decided to reverse the plan following a ‘disproportionate amount of anxiety’ from parents.

“This plainly demonstrates that National still did not think that the policy was wrong. The Government still doesn’t get the damage that increased classes sizes will do to children’s learning.

“The Minister also announced today that the Government is abandoning proposed investment in professional leadership and teach quality initiatives. This shows it continues to see improving quality and increasing class sizes as a trade-off,” David Shearer said.

“National still sees education as a cost to cut, rather than an investment in our future.

“National has zero credibility on education after this humiliating back-down. Parents and teachers will be waiting for the next round of education cuts.

“Investing in education should be one of the highest priorities for any Government and will be for any Government I lead.

“The Prime Minister needs to take responsibility for this botched policy as much as Hekia Parata,” said David Shearer.