9. Schools—Class SizesHon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) to the Minister of EducationSchools—Class Sizes9. Hon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) to the Minister of Education: Will he commit to reducing teacher ratios in primary schools in this term of Government to reduce class sizes?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): Reducing teacher ratios would most likely have the effect of increasing class sizes so I'm happy to rule that out. If the member meant to ask about reducing child or student ratios the Government will consider any such changes as part of future Budget rounds alongside other pressing priorities including more support for children with special needs more support to recruit and train teachers for the vacancies we already have and funding to deal with the decade of educational neglect we inherited from the last Government.Hon Nikki Kaye: Does he agree with Labour's education spokesperson Mr Chris Hipkins who said in July 2017 It remains a goal to reduce class sizes" and can he confirm whether reducing child-teacher ratios and workload are off the table in the current pay negotiations with primary teachers?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The member's question contained a number of things in it that are certainly on the table. Reducing teacher workload is absolutely one of the things that I imagine will be discussed as a result of the current bargaining round. I'm not ruling out changes to class sizes over the term of this Government but as I indicated in my answer to the primary question they will be considered alongside all of the other priorities that the Government has in the education area.Hon Nikki Kaye: Why will he not absolutely commit to reducing class sizes and what action will he take against Labour list MP Ginny Andersen who distributed this pamphlet which said Labour believes class sizes are too high and will absolutely invest in class sizes?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I'm not sure which election campaign that flyer came from but what I can be clear about is that the Government is absolutely committed to employing more teachers. We put funding aside for 1500 more teachers in this year's Budget and that will have an effect on class sizes that would have been going up had we not put that funding aside in order to fund that.Jan Tinetti: Is the Minister prepared even ahead of knowing the scale of change or where the funding would come from to announce that he would be reducing class sizes in this term of Government?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: It would be irresponsible to make such a commitment without knowing exactly what we would be buying for the money or how much it would cost or how it is going to be paid for.Hon Nikki Kaye: I seek leave to table a pamphlet by Ginny Andersen which was distributed—SPEAKER: I think the members—we know. Yep. Is there any objection to that being tabled? There appears to be none. It shall be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Hon Nikki Kaye: Given his comments about finding out what the highest priority is for teachers has he asked them whether they would prefer the Government spend $2.8 billion on his fees-free and tertiary support package or a very similar amount that would give every teacher in New Zealand a 15 percent pay rise?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I have indeed been discussing priorities with the teacher representatives. Amongst the things that they identified as not a priority was the huge amount of money that was spent on the Investing in Educational Success initiative implemented by the previous Government and any number of the things the previous Government decided to prioritise over the very things the member is now advocating for.Hon Nikki Kaye: When will he take responsibility for his decisions which include more than 18 broken promises on class sizes and on donations and his decision to spend billions of dollars on students instead of teachers and how does he think criticising 50000 teachers by calling them unreasonable will help resolve the teacher strikes?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: First of all I absolutely reject the premise in the last part of the member's question. The Government is absolutely committed to negotiating in good faith with the teachers both primary and secondary and we will continue to do that. There are a range of priorities in the education portfolio that the Government will be endeavouring to meet over the term of Government. I absolutely reject any suggestion that we've broken any promises with regard to class sizes and I'm absolutely committed to delivering on the commitments made in the Speech from the Throne the coalition agreement we have with New Zealand First the confidence and supply agreement with the Green Party and the other commitments that the Government has signed up to through the Budget."