Luxton JoJO LUXTON (Labour): It is a pleasure to stand and take a call in this general debate. This is my first time participating in the general debate and I just have to say what a fantastic time to be involved in education whether you are a student a teacher or a parent of a child attending school. After nine long years the clouds are lifting. The sun is starting to shine again on our education system. It's been a long time but hey—help is finally here.Isn't it refreshing to have such a proactive visionary hard-working and progressive Government leading the way on all things important to this country? Some members opposite might say we are spending all our time working on their legislation but I put it to you: we are simply cleaning up. We are tidying up the mess doing the housework. And believe me there is a big mess to clean.But anyway let's talk about the really important stuff. Let's get back to this progressive Government that is making things happen that will benefit all New Zealanders in particular around the education space an area that is near and dear to my heart. Without a decent education what have you got? As I said in my maiden speech Education is the one thing that overcomes every disadvantage with which a child might be born." Whether it's first second or third chance education it remains the most transformative influence in our lives. It benefits everybody and to that extent education at any level is a public good. Fees-free post - secondary school education is going to be transformative for New Zealanders.Let's move on to national standards—something that is neither national nor standard. It's a dog's breakfast. How demeaning is it for a child to see that they are constantly below standard? What does that mean for a child? Will they think "I am dumb. I am stupid. I am just not good enough."? I don't know. As an adult I would probably think that and I would think "What is the point of even trying?" Education is about building children up—enabling them to be empowered not beaten down.As a parent I found national standards pointless. They told me nothing about my child. I don't want to know where they sit on a scale compared to other children. I'm not interested in others; I'm interested in my child and what his personal achievements and successes are—where he needs to improve not where he isn't good enough.So national standards are gone and I can hear teachers clapping everywhere. They're clapping their hands in glee. Finally they are free of national standards which were forced upon them. We will do it better. We will work collaboratively with all stakeholders. We will build a better system one that is more focused on the child's progress—not one that will fail our children again but one that will be transformative.We are a Government that listens unlike the previous one which simply heard principals tell them of the shortage of teachers in Auckland and shortages of teachers with specific subject skills such as science Te Reo technology and maths. Well this Government not only heard but we listened. Now principals can rest assured that this Government has really listened and we have a plan and we will provide funding to the tune of $9.5 million to address immediate pressures. And believe me there is much more to come from this progressive hard-working forward-thinking Government. Thank you.The debate having concluded the motion lapsed."