Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Labour will support increased participation in sport and recreation activities, including
through an investigation into school sport participation, including the feasibility of
reintroducing mid-week early finishing nationwide to facilitate mid-week sport.
Enviro-Schools
We must encourage future generations to value conservation, engage with nature, and
understand environmental sustainability by initiatives such as the Labour‟s Enviro-Schools
programme.
Labour will reinstate the Enviro-Schools programme.
ICT – Connected schools
Digital Kiwis
Through smart use of ICT, we can further enhance our world-class education system. This
means that schools must be at the front of the queue for ultra-fast broadband. Labour is
committed to ensuring that no child leaves school disadvantaged in life by not being able to
understand how to use and create with technology.
Labour will continue to fund and prioritise free or low-cost internet access through
programmes such as Aotearoa People‟s Network, School-based ICT, Computers in
Homes, and KAREN.
Labour is committed to providing a clearer separation between using technology (for
everyone) and building technology as a discipline.
Labour will implement proper NCEA achievement standards in ICT in schools and
notes the progress that has been made following the recommendations made by the
Digital Technology Experts Panel.
„E-learning‟ and Engaged Young People
Technology (and high-speed broadband in particular) has the potential to transform our
education system. All students will benefit from this technological transformation and we
believe that „e-learning‟ can also be used to foster a sense of learning in those most likely to
disengage from the education system.
Many New Zealand students are achieving at high levels, but there are still too many young
people failing to achieve and disengaging from education. This is particularly so for Māori,
Pasifika, and children from low-income families. Over one-third of 15-year-olds are bored in
school, and Māori and Pasifika are disproportionately represented among bored and
disengaged students. Research shows that engagement reduces each year from year
seven to 10, with the largest drop between years eight and nine when students transition
from primary to secondary school.
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