Petition Tag - specialist technology

Taking effect in 2013, the government intends altering teacher- student funding ratios, and to cease the funding of specialist technology teachers in Intermediate Schools.

The staff within New Zealand schools work very hard to provide all children with a broad, engaging and challenging curriculum. And realistic class sizes and specialist technology teachers have been fundamental platforms upon which schools throughout New Zealand have developed this engaging and challenging learning environment for their students.


The government has also suggested Boards of Trustees have choices when addressing these changes. Schools have been advised to redistribute their limited funding to maintain suitable class sizes and the teaching of Technology. The choices many school boards face are these: either they increase homeroom class sizes to 40, or they no longer offer Technology as part of the curriculum.

The consequences of either choice would be devastating to New Zealand schools, and to our children's education. The current homeroom class size allows teachers to work with children personally and as members of small reading, writing and other peer groups. Class sizes of 40 would severely compromise this from 2013 onward. And secondly, we know how important the art, cooking, specialist ICT, and hard/soft materials classes are to our children.

New Zealand schools would be much less vibrant places without Technology in our children's day.

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