Last reports for ERO chief

By REBECCA WALSH education reporter

After nearly a decade in the top job at the Education Review Office, Judith Aitken has decided to move on.

Dr Aitken, chief executive and chief review officer, joined the ERO in 1992 and will leave at the end of the year when her contract expires.

Throughout her tenure she has been outspoken in her criticism of poor-performing schools and incompetent teachers.

Her comments, and her reports, have in turn sparked criticism from teachers, who have proposed banning ERO visits to schools and questioned the reports' value.

Deputy State Services Commissioner Ross Tanner said that under Dr Aitken the ERO had established itself as a department dedicated to the interests of parents and students.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard described Dr Aitken as a dedicated person who had made an enormous contribution to education.

"She has made a real difference to kids in New Zealand. She has caused a lot of people to focus on some important issues, [particularly] the importance of the quality of teachers."

Mr Mallard said Dr Aitken was known for making controversial statements about particular schools and the inability of the system to "pick up the pieces" when there were problems in schools.

"The vast majority of her statements I agree quite strongly with."

Asked whether Dr Aitken's departure signalled a change in direction for the ERO, Mr Mallard said its focus was already under review.



An acting chief executive will be appointed to head the office.

Dr Aitken was travelling to South Africa for the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management Conference and could not be reached for comment.

A spokeswoman said she had not decided what she would do when her contract finished.

Before taking the ERO job, Dr Aitken worked for four years as the secretary for the Minister of Women's Affairs, following a short stint as corporate relations manager of Electricorp.