Query - Will the attendance services see any of this money?
Deputy secretary regional operations Katrina Casey said the reduction in service providers around the country from 78 to 18 would simplify the system. Schools would be able to build better relationships with providers and other key agencies such as social services to intervene and prevent problems.
Query - Will this happen? - Only if the attendance services do this as the MoE were never good communicators with the past District Truancy Services. It was the DTServices that kept up the communication. Often I would have local MoE Staff contacting me for information and contacts.
Of the 153 truancy officers employed nationwide under the former services, about 65 had asked to be considered for roles with new providers.
Query - will the MoE pay out the extra redundancy money to schools that had Officers under the NZEI union cover. This was never covered in any payment from the MoE and was a 'direct cause' of their change of policy - they may be queried this one from some BoT's.
The service would take the best of the previous system and develop new ways to be more responsive to the needs of learners and their families, particularly Maori and Pasifika communities.
Query - How different is this so called (new) Attendance Service from the previous DTS? its operation is designed from the past DTService and its operation the same (whats NEW?)
Query - (Particularly Maori/Pacifica) Is it not a breech of the Human Rights Act to be targeting a minority group = Maori/Pacifica? It is NOT the race but the system which is failing them.
Truancy is also a Family/Whanua problem. It is NO respecter of Race, Religion or Creed.
Some people do NOT fit into the current Education System and it is NOT helped by the ridiculous restrictions on entering any form of 'Alternative Education'
Final Comment:
Here we go again. Lets change everything in New Zealand because a minority group is failing.
This country seems to have an inferiority problem big-time! or is that the Politicians who are ruling us?