School principals report that the Novopay payroll system that caused so much chaos when it was first introduced is still struggling to deliver accuracy, and judging by their feedback, principals are still hugely frustrated at the inadequacies of a system that continues to suck their patience dry. 

‘The Labour party’s plans to address inequality through increasing free early-childhood education for 3 – 5-year olds to 25 hours a week and provide additional support in health and housing is welcomed by New Zealand school principals,’ said Philip Harding, President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation.

‘We all know that the ‘out of school’ factors that influence children’s underachievement add up to sixty percent of the variance,’ he said. 

Principals have welcomed the Green Party’s announcement to establish on site community hubs for low decile schools to address the inequalities which affect learning for one in four children in New Zealand.

 ‘We know that sixty percent of the variance around under achievement relates to influences that reside ‘out of the school’ and are socioeconomic in nature,’ said Philip Harding, President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF).