New Principals’ Federation President Seeks Collaboration with Education Minister

The newly appointed president of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation, representing approximately 1,500 school principals, has initiated a request for a meeting with the country’s Education Minister, Erica Stanford. Jason Miles, who has transitioned from his role at Kaiapoi North School to lead the federation, aims to improve the currently strained relationship between school leaders and the Ministry of Education.

In a statement, Miles expressed his intention to discuss concerns and foster a collaborative environment. “I have requested an early-in-the-year meeting with the minister and the secretary of education where we will outline our concerns, and will be very open about the fact that we want to partner with the ministry,” he said. His leadership at the federation will also involve coordination with 120 regional principal associations.

Previous federation president, Leanne Otene, was vocal in opposing recent governmental education reforms that included a significant shift towards a more structured curriculum. This curriculum requires specific content to be taught, which has raised concerns among educators. While Miles acknowledges the federation’s frustrations regarding the rapid implementation of these changes, he emphasizes a desire to move towards a more cooperative approach.

Miles believes that the current dialogue has not been reciprocated by Minister Stanford. “We believe that the minister has taken advice from people outside the sector lead groups in regards to the direction of education, and the curriculum itself, so we are deeply concerned about that,” he noted. The federation is committed to continuing its support by offering feedback to both the ministry and through public channels.

Key initiatives such as the ban on cell phones in schools, the mandate for one hour of reading, writing, and mathematics daily, and the need to revise an outdated curriculum from 2007 highlight areas where the federation has been supportive. Previously, the federation played an active role in updating the curriculum under the previous government, and Miles has voiced concerns about the reduction in transparency regarding the curriculum voices group established by the current administration.

“The group’s work was not open and transparent, and it felt like a compliance activity rather than a consultative working group,” Miles stated. His experience as a principal spans over three decades in various Canterbury schools, and he has served as deputy president of the federation since 2022.

In light of the upcoming election year, Miles plans to advocate for a cross-party education group to focus on critical education issues over a ten-year period, aiming to minimize ongoing political disruptions. He emphasized, “The never-ending game of education being a political football needs to have the final whistle blown.”

Through this new leadership, the New Zealand Principals’ Federation seeks to create a more constructive dialogue with the Ministry of Education, enhancing the educational landscape for students and educators alike.