Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTurei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 15 October 2013. Volume:694;Page:13836. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) to theMinister of Education: Does she believe that she has effectively explained National Standards to earn the trust of parents and the teaching profession; if so why?Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education): Yes. There has been and continues to be considerable support from parents principals the boards and teachers to work with national standards. The National Standards: School Sample Monitoring and Evaluation Project report published annually since 2010 shows good progress made in the implementation of the national standards and a steady increase in teacher reporting to parents on national standards—from 79 percent in 2010 to 91 percent in 2012.Metiria Turei: Why then does she think the national standards results advisory group doubts she has the credibility to explain national standards and is looking for someone with “acknowledged authority” to explain them instead?Hon HEKIA PARATA: The member is referring to the national standards aggregate data advisory group which I convened asking it to look at specifically the issues it has looked at. We have accepted all 11 of its recommendations most of which have been implemented.Metiria Turei: Will the Minister acknowledge that she has lost the trust of parents and teachers as the national standards group suggests when it says: “Given the current distrust between schools and the ministry the audience needs to have confidence that the teller of the story has credibility so the story is believable.”?Hon HEKIA PARATA: First of all the member is imputing that the teller of the story was me when in fact the advisory group was referring to all explanations given about national standards across the country. Secondly only two schools out of nearly 2100 did not report their national standards data.Metiria Turei: I seek leave to table an Official Information Act request from the deputy secretary student achievement showing the national standards advisory group outlining concerns about the lack of trust and credibility in the Government’s oversight—Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that Official Information Act document. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Metiria Turei: Will the Minister resign now that her Government’s key education policy needs someone else other than her to make it believable schools do not trust the Government on education and she has lost two High Court cases over her illegal decisions to close schools? Where does the buck stop if not with her?Hon HEKIA PARATA: This is the second year of reporting of national standards and we have had only two out of 2100 schools not reporting. It relates to 365042 students for whom we now have public metrics about what it is we need to do to raise achievement. We have implemented Better Public Services targets which we are making measurable progress on. Teachers principals boards of trustees and parents are all focused on how they raise achievement. I am confident that our Government’s programme which is focused on achievement is achieving that very end.Metiria Turei: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was whether she will resign. She has not—Mr SPEAKER: Order! If the member had simply asked that question we might have been able to help but the member went on and put quite a lot in it beyond that and then finished with “Where will the buck stop?”. The Minister addressed the question.