Principals vote to boycott new tool

Principals attending a conference in Hamilton voted unanimously in support of a call by the NZ Principals' Federation to boycott the Ministry of Education's new National Standards software programme.

Hundreds of principals from around the country attended the NZ Principals' Federation conference at Claudelands Events Centre.

The Progress and Consistency Tool (PaCT) is being trialled this year and is expected to become mandatory by 2015.

NZPF president Philip Harding put forward a motion for all its members to boycott PaCT over concerns about how data entered into the system will be used.

PaCT was introduced as an online tool designed to assist teachers to make more reliable and consistent assessments. It has been billed as the Government's answer to criticism from teachers that National Standard

lack consistency in how they are applied and moderated.

Mr Harding said schools weren't concerned at the tool itself, but rather its use. He said if the National Government was re-elected performance pay would come at teachers ``like a train''.

Waikato Principals Association communications officer and Deanwell School principal Pat Poland said ``strongly'' endorsed Mr Harding's motion to boycott PaCT. He said the tool would link the data straight into performance monitoring.

Minister of Education Hekia Parata was set to speak about the future of New Zealand education, however, her flight was cancelled due to poor weather. She is expected to address delegates tomorrow afternoon instead.