Editor
Of all the provisions in the Update of the Education Act, it The Children’s Commissioner, Judge Andrew Becroft, presented a was surprising that ‘cohort enrolment’ would attract such public strong case in his oral submission to the Select Committee saying interest. Children beginning school in cohorts, aged anywhere that the Update of the Act should be stopped because children between four and six years, depending on their birth dates, is an have not been properly consulted. ‘The children’s voice needs to issue that has recently captured the attention of parents across be heard!’ he advised the Select Committee. Again, he was not the nation. The NZPF President is quoted by eight different alone in his view. Other presenters at the Select Committee raised media outlets on cohorts, which the same issue saying that they is greater coverage than on any ‘The children’s voice needs did not believe that the impact of other topic this year. His position proposed changes on children’s is that there is no groundswell of to be heard!’ he advised the learning had been adequately parents demanding a change to considered. Some suggested that cohort school entry and if schools Select Committee. Again, he was proposed changes side-lined and their communities do find not alone in his view. the New Zealand Curriculum cohort entry desirable, legislation by narrowing its focus and thus allows them to do this now. In other words, there seems no reducing the learning opportunities that children can benefit logical reason to be making legislative change to accommodate from when they are exposed to a broad and rich curriculum. cohort entry to school. They argued that the very priority children that are at the centre Cohort entry is one provision which does have an obvious of all government policies would be disadvantaged if the types of impact on parents and they have reacted in a variety of different learning opportunities, especially those that occur in authentic ways. Some have argued that Aotearoa New Zealand is already contexts and have application in the real world, were reduced. unusual by having children start school at age five. Most countries The Minister would argue that she has met all consultation of the western world do not embark on formal schooling before requirements, including seeking student and parental input. age six or seven. That said it has always been the case that no I don’t doubt for a second that the Minister has fulfilled the parent in New Zealand is required to enrol their child in formal legal requirements of consultation. The question is does that education until age six. Common practice is however that consultation process have real meaning for the groups she is children start school on their fifth birthday. required to consult? Has the Minister actually listened to the Some parents have argued that the cohort starting date students and parents and incorporated their views in the Update? chosen is arbitrary and takes no account of whether a particular Judge Becroft certainly doesn’t think so and nor do the many child is ready or not to start school. It takes no account of the parents now speaking out about cohort entry to school. implications for parents of having to keep children in day care It all comes down to what we mean by ‘consultation’. One view for longer, or for schools that may have to provide ‘pre-school’ is that consultation is a two-way process where people discuss education for four year old children who are not ready for views, listen to each other, value each other’s positions and ideas formal education. It takes no account of pre-school education and seek agreed solutions. Another is to see consultation as a centres that would have large numbers of children exiting at a legal but not ethical requirement. If you adopt the latter view certain time of the year. It has ignored the fact that subsidies for then it is easy to make provision for people to express their views, child care (the twenty hours free policy) cease at age five. And such as submission and oral submission processes, but have no so the arguments continue. In summary most are saying that intention of either listening to or valuing the comments and introducing cohort entry to school is a case of administrative positions expressed and even less intention of including them convenience usurping parents’ and children’s needs. in the proposed legislation. Further, it is a case of public reaction to a policy after it has Judge Becroft and the many parents publicly expressing their already reached the Select Committee stage. It is a case of parents views on cohort entry to school, clearly feel consultation on the feeling their voice had not being sought or taken into account Update of the Education Act has not been adequate and certain in the earlier stages of constructing this particular section of the voices have not been heard. The question is whether we will Update of the Act. any longer accept that merely fulfilling a legal requirement for It is not the only provision in the Update of the Education consultation is enough. Act that has met with strong reaction because people feel consultation has not been sought in a way that satisfies them.