In this episode of Family Matters, Simon sits down with Cynthia Hancox to discuss the government looking to give the Ministry of Education huge new powers to impose reporting and assessment requirements on home schooling.
Cynthia is the government liaison for the National Council of Home Educators, advises those homeschooling, and has herself homeschooled five children. She shares how the Ministry has not consulted the sector but instead surprised them with proposed legislation via the Education and Training (System Reform) Bill. In fact, she talks of how the Ministry explicitly notes in its own documentation that they have chosen not to engage and expect this to be badly received. With no idea why new reporting and assessment is required, or what these requirements might be – home educators are understandably worried, including that it will take away from their desire to teach their kids as they see best. Even more concerning is a clause in the proposed legislation that the Ministry of Education and create any other regulations they see appropriate. As Simon notes, this is a huge amount of power being given by the Parliament to bureaucrats. No longer are things spelled out in black and white in legislation, but instead an effective blank cheque given to unelected civil servants. With the legislation progressing through parliament now, and no chance for public input as the Minister has introduced these changes after the select committee process, it is important that people write to their local MP immediately. Either the changes need to be halted or the amendment Bill be returned to the select committee so people can have their say. As both Cynthia and Simon note, it is unfathomable that the government has not consulted the very parents and sector who are being targeted.
You can find out more via Cynthia’s website https://www.cynthiahancox.com/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NZHomeEducationAdvisor #familymatters #familyfirstnz
