Educators rally to resist global funding proposal

<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Unprecedented combined meetings of 60&comma;000 PPTA and NZEI Te Riu Roa members have begun around New Zealand&period; Educators from early childhood to secondary schooling are uniting to respond to the government’s proposal for global funding&comma; saying it is a return to bulk funding and could result in fewer teachers and larger class sizes&period;<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">PPTA president Angela Roberts says global funding will result in over-sized classrooms because principals will be unwilling to cut their teacher bu<span class&equals;"text&lowbar;exposed&lowbar;show">dget&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;Now what they&&num;8217&semi;re proposing is that you can cash in a teacher&period; So you can&&num;8217&semi;t touch the lino money anymore&period; Property is much more important than the profession&period; So when things are tight you can cash up a teacher&period; So in Christchurch we&&num;8217&semi;re saying we need more guidance counsellors&comma; people are still finding it tough&period; And the minister will say&comma; &&num;8216&semi;Well&comma; good luck&&num;8217&semi;&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">The government has also refused to explore any increase in funding for education&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Meetings will be held between September 5th and 16th&comma; from Kaitaia to Invercargill&comma; starting in Auckland&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;