Baillie ChrisCHRIS BAILLIE (ACT): Thanks Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of ACT to speak to the third reading of the Education and Training Amendment Bill. This bill makes a number of small and non-controversial but relatively important amendments to the Act such as the education workers and school employees to meet police vetting requirements. I've been a teacher for 22 years and I always thought that was already a requirement so good job there. The extension of a year of tertiary education providers not charging student services fees and the clarification of who can use physical restraint on students in a school or an education environment—I still do think it's worth pointing out that under the Crimes Act section 48 self-defence anyone can actually use reasonable force to prevent assaults taking place. I'd hate to think that teachers were hamstrung because they didn't have specific permission or an adult and were not intervening in a situation that could potentially turn serious.But there are many other matters in education that require the urgency of this bill such as—we've got truancy. We've got 67 percent of students who attend school regularly. There's a select committee inquiry going on at the moment. Literacy and numeracy rates are falling when compared with the rest of the world. There doesn't seem to be a plan and no acknowledgment that there is a problem. Special needs as mentioned before is an area that's ever-growing that needs attention urgently. We've got 6045 special needs students in Auckland who've gone through lockdown without extra help that their parents desperately need. Students who must have a routine—these students do—and support to get through the day. I was a special educational needs coordinator for the last 10 years and these kids without clear direction and a plan find it really difficult just to survive.Behaviour: bullying is getting worse. And if a student can't learn in a class—if the class isn't under control—it's something that really needs to get sorted especially after COVID. I just recently read a report from South Auckland that behaviour issues are a major concern at the moment as a result of COVID. Teacher training and retention: when we hear teacher trainees receive 90 minutes total learning how to teach reading we should be worried. We're going to find out soon how many teachers are going to give up just because it's too hard. I'm already aware of classes being taught by teacher aides because there aren't enough teachers to go around and we really need to plan for this.The Government abolished successful charter schools and is making it difficult for those wanting to establish designated character schools. We have to start thinking outside the square to cater for those kids that don't fit into mainstream schooling. The pending history curriculum which in its current form says that New Zealand started in 1840 it's based on victims and villains and which won't represent 83 percent of the New Zealand population. We need to put our kids first not ideological agendas.Recovering from COVID is going to be difficult in the teaching profession and education and ACT has a huge concern for both students and teachers. The mental health issues already manifesting themselves with students and with teachers will need to be dealt with—the falling standards truancy teacher training will all need to be dealt with. We need a clear plan. It is a shame there won't be any consultation in the plan that will go forward. We must get back to basics and I hope the Government treats these issues with the urgency it has given this bill. Thank you Mr Speaker.