Parata Hekia: Education Amendment Bill (No 2) — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeParata Hekia: Education Amendment Bill (No 2) — In Committee[Sitting date: 02 December 2014. Volume:702;Page:1040. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education):Kia ora tātou. I thought it would be useful if I got up and clarified some of the understandings that are reflected in the contributions that have been made this evening. In fact it is true that there has been a 4-year process and there has not been selective listening. In fact the first part of the process was a sector-led group that went around and had discussions with its colleagues in 2010. In 2012 there was another review and it was based around who could or could not safely teach in schools and that was followed in 2012 by a further review of the Teachers Council as a whole and that went around and consulted. Then in 2013—Dr Megan Woods: How many submitters supported this?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Well there are 102000 teachers registered and I will submit to you that far more than—Dr Megan Woods: What proportion of submitters supported this?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Well a big number of those were consulted.Hon Trevor Mallard: A big number?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I cannot put a specific number on it and I do not propose to. But if members would just like to listen—as opposed to suggesting that I do not—I will tell them that what happened was we then had a ministerial advisory group which then held consultations all around the country. So it is absolutely true to say that a 4-year process of consultation—of listening—went on which culminated in the select committee. It is not true to say then that we have not listened to the select committee because a number of the recommendations made by that select committee have been incorporated into this bill.Members are very exercised by the idea that there will be nine members appointed to the council. What will occur then—what has been indicated from the outset—is that the competencies and capabilities expected for the governance of the institution will be publicly known and transparent. And it will be democratically possible for every individual teacher to nominate into that process if they choose to unlike the process we have now where it happens through particular organisations. Parents can nominate. What is required under this bill is that a majority of those appointments must be teachers who are registered and hold current practising certificates—that was a recommendation of the select committee and that has been taken up—and they have to be able to demonstrate through the final appointment that they meet all of the competencies required to govern this new entity.One of the questions that has also been asked has been about the proposition that there has been the removal of natural justice from this bill. I think that is just a small confusion; in fact it has moved to a different section. So although it was in section 353(2) inserted by clause 38 it is now in section 382(3) inserted by clause 38. So this bill provides for natural justice; it is just in a different section.This bill is absolutely focused on how we support the teaching and leadership of the education sector and the profession to have a professional body that is about them about standards that underpin their particular roles and about a consistent and moderated process that appraises whether or not those standards are being met. The 10 percent provision is to ensure that there is consistency across the country. Analogously this is what the New Zealand Qualifications Authority does when it ensures that we have consistent marking of our examinations. In fact I think that this provision enhances the quality provisions that are within this bill.I think that the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand is a sound reflection of the characteristics that are necessary for a 21st century professional body. This bill has certainly been through rigorous scrutiny as it has been tonight and I am very pleased that we have had the opportunity to clarify some of the concerns that have been raised during the debate. Thank you.