Local primary and intermediate schools taking action against controversial national standards received another boost recently when the Labour Party announced it will not force them to implement the policy. Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins is confident that local schools will welcome the commitment. Read the rest of this entry »
Schools tight on standards protest
On July - 20 - 2011
Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins is backing the stance of schools in Upper Hutt united in their opposition to the Government’s introduction of national standards in reading, writing and mathematics, saying they are ‘‘rushed and poorly thought through’’. Read the rest of this entry »
Key kicks low decile school sports for touch
On August - 14 - 2009
John Key and the National Government are stripping thousands of dollars out of low decile school sports programmes to pay for soccer balls in wealthier areas, Labour MPs Ross Robertson and Chris Hipkins say. Read the rest of this entry »
Lifting education standards
On May - 1 - 2009
Late last year the new National government rushed a number of pieces of legislation through parliament under Urgency. Because they were rushed through all stages of the legislative process, none of these new laws were subject to scrutiny by a Select Committee and the public never got a change to have their say on them.
The legislation introducing national standards into our primary schools probably received the least publicity, but it has the potential to have a very significant impact on the way our young people are taught and what they learn. Read the rest of this entry »
Maiden Speech
On December - 16 - 2008
Kia ora koutou katoa, e kui ma, e koro ma, e te whänau, ngä iwi o te motu. Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tätou katoa.
It is with tremendous pride and a great sense of responsibility that I rise as the new Member of Parliament for Rimutaka. As a genuine ‘Hutt boy’ I feel deeply honored to have this opportunity to serve and represent the community that has given so much to me throughout my life.
My speech is notable in at least the sense that maiden speeches from my part of the country are reasonably infrequent events.
More Hutt Valley students achieving qualifications
On July - 27 - 2008
Labour’s candidate for the Rimutaka electorate Chris Hipkins has welcomed news more students are leaving school with qualifications. “It’s great to see that some of the changes Labour has made to the school system are resulting in kids staying on at school longer and getting more qualifications. Making sure every kiwi kid gets a fair go at school so that they can reach their full potential is really important for the future of our country” Chris Hipkins said. Read the rest of this entry »
