Consultation workshops kick off – timing criticised

&NewLine;<p><img class&equals;" alignright size-full wp-image-1917" src&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;schoolnewsnz&period;fastrackdev&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2015&sol;11&sol;SND21-wk3-Education&lowbar;Act-MOE&lowbar;English&lowbar;logo-CMYK-HD1&period;jpg" alt&equals;"SND21-wk3-Education Act-MOE English logo-CMYK-HD1" style&equals;"margin&colon; 5px&semi; float&colon; right&semi;" width&equals;"300" height&equals;"141" &sol;>Consultation workshops on the update of the Education Act 1989 have kicked off throughout the country and will continue through to early December&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p> <&excl;--more--> <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The proposed changes to the Act will update the legislation to support the development of a 21st century education system that is learner centred&comma; focused on their educational achievement and recognises the diversity of students within our education system&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Workshops are being hosted in Tai Tokerau&comma; Auckland&comma; Waikato&comma; Bay of Plenty&comma; Taranaki&comma; Whanganui&comma; Manawatu&comma; Hawke&&num;8217&semi;s Bay&comma; Wellington&comma; Nelson&comma; Canterbury and Southland&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Advocates for special needs learners are not impressed with the late notice of the workshops&comma; however&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;It&&num;8217&semi;s a crying shame that we have been given such a short space of time to respond to the proposed changes to the Education Act&comma;&&num;8221&semi; says Ms Dianne Khan from support group&comma; Special Education Needs NZ&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;But it&&num;8217&semi;s still very important that we all think about the issues and have our say&period; Parent and wh&amacr;nau voices are incredibly important if we are to get these changes right&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;