Campaign speaks up for education

A nationwide campaign to get people talking about quality public education in ECE centres and primary schools is generating strong interest in centres, schools and communities all over the country.

The Speak Up for Education campaign organised by the NZEI, was launched in South Auckland last month.

Schools and centres around NZ have now organised Speak Up events, forums and displays to engage parents, communities and community leaders to exchange thoughts and messages about the education system.

NZEI president Ian Leckie says the campaign aims “to get schools and communities to talk about what’s fantastic about the Kiwi education system, as well as highlighting what’s needed to have every child succeed in it”.

He says 85 per cent of NZ students are doing really well, ECE centres are highly rated internationally and Kiwi kids are amongst the top five readers in the world, while they also do very well at science and maths.

“If we want NZ to prosper, develop its economy and create new jobs education is our best investment. To achieve this, we need to encourage a system that fosters diversity and difference in the way children learn and grow,” Leckie says.

NZEI represents 50,000 teachers and support staff in schools and ECE centres.