Latest news with #LawrenceXu-Nan
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Budget 2025 Leaves Future Of School Lunches Uncertain
Press Release – Green Party The Governments refusal to commit to funding the school lunch programme leaves thousands of families unsure whether their kids will be fed or forgotten, says the Green Partys spokesperson for Education, Lawrence Xu-Nan. The future of the Ka Ora | Ka Ako school lunch programme looks to be uncertain with Budget 2025 failing to provide any funding beyond 2026. 'The Government's refusal to commit to funding the school lunch programme leaves thousands of families unsure whether their kids will be fed or forgotten,' says the Green Party's spokesperson for Education, Lawrence Xu-Nan. 'Our children deserve better. They deserve kai that nourishes them, setting them up to achieve their full potential. The Government could have used today's Budget to commit to feeding our kids good food, instead, it has left our most vulnerable tamariki wondering whether they will have lunch at school past next year. 'The writing has been on the wall for months. 'Seymour's slop' was always funded to fail. All of this looks to be a prelude to the programme being cut completely. 'Expecting children to focus and succeed in school with empty stomachs is not just unrealistic, it's inhumane. 'Failing to fund this programme beyond next year shows exactly where this Government's priorities lie–and it's not with our children's wellbeing. 'As the Green Party showed last week, this is not inevitable. Our plan lays out real solutions, including expanding free school lunches, as a baseline funding, to more than 150,000 additional children every day. 'We want all tamariki in Aotearoa to thrive and have a sense of belonging in schools. 'That means no child should go to school hungry. Full stop, end of story,' says Lawrence Xu-Nan.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Budget 2025 Leaves Future Of School Lunches Uncertain
The future of the Ka Ora | Ka Ako school lunch programme looks to be uncertain with Budget 2025 failing to provide any funding beyond 2026. 'The Government's refusal to commit to funding the school lunch programme leaves thousands of families unsure whether their kids will be fed or forgotten,' says the Green Party's spokesperson for Education, Lawrence Xu-Nan. 'Our children deserve better. They deserve kai that nourishes them, setting them up to achieve their full potential. The Government could have used today's Budget to commit to feeding our kids good food, instead, it has left our most vulnerable tamariki wondering whether they will have lunch at school past next year. 'The writing has been on the wall for months. 'Seymour's slop' was always funded to fail. All of this looks to be a prelude to the programme being cut completely. 'Expecting children to focus and succeed in school with empty stomachs is not just unrealistic, it's inhumane. 'Failing to fund this programme beyond next year shows exactly where this Government's priorities lie–and it's not with our children's wellbeing. 'As the Green Party showed last week, this is not inevitable. Our plan lays out real solutions, including expanding free school lunches, as a baseline funding, to more than 150,000 additional children every day. 'We want all tamariki in Aotearoa to thrive and have a sense of belonging in schools. 'That means no child should go to school hungry. Full stop, end of story,' says Lawrence Xu-Nan.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Report Shows Govt's Callous Lack Of Support For System At Breaking Point
Press Release – Green Party The Greens plan lays out real solutions. As a starting point: nationalising ECE, expanding free school lunches, and building a learning support system where every child belongs, says Green Party Education Spokesperson, Lawrence Xu-Nan. A new report from Aotearoa Educators' Collective, released today, has confirmed what teachers, students, and whanau have been calling out for years–our learning support system is overstretched, underfunded, and simply not working. 'This report paints a stark picture of systemic strain, with those working in learning support being pushed to breaking point,' says Green Party Education Spokesperson, Lawrence Xu-Nan. 'Education should serve the wellbeing and potential of all mokopuna—not just those whose needs align with the status quo. We have all the tools we need to give them that and more, but it requires serious investment and support for our workforce. 'However, the Government is intent on making cosmetic tweaks, like fragmented and reactive funding, while ignoring the core issue: the system was never set up to work properly in the first place. 'Every announcement to date from this coalition has tinkered around the edges to make the numbers look prettier, rather than prompting genuine change that benefits our tamariki, their whānau, kaiako, kaimahi, and the wider communities. 'Today's report shows decades of neglect, growing pressure, and a workforce pushed to breaking point. The Government's cancellation of 33 pay equity claims–many of which affect teachers and support staff–makes it blatantly clear they're not serious about fixing it. 'Further, the new Education and Training Amendment Bill completely fails to recognise the actual need of our education system. 'The Greens' plan lays out real solutions. As a starting point: nationalising ECE, expanding free school lunches, and building a learning support system where every child belongs. 'Our plan will put children's wellbeing at the centre of decision-making and policy, where it should have been all along,' says Lawrence Xu-Nan. Notes: The report can be found in full here. Learning support can be defined as '… the systems, services, and personnel designed to ensure that all mokopuna—including those with neurodivergence, disabilities, health needs, or experiences of trauma—can access, participate in, and progress through the curriculum on an equitable basis.' (Beyond Capacity: Learning Support in Crisis, p.5).
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Report Shows Govt's Callous Lack Of Support For System At Breaking Point
A new report from Aotearoa Educators' Collective, released today, has confirmed what teachers, students, and whanau have been calling out for years–our learning support system is overstretched, underfunded, and simply not working. 'This report paints a stark picture of systemic strain, with those working in learning support being pushed to breaking point,' says Green Party Education Spokesperson, Lawrence Xu-Nan. 'Education should serve the wellbeing and potential of all mokopuna—not just those whose needs align with the status quo. We have all the tools we need to give them that and more, but it requires serious investment and support for our workforce. 'However, the Government is intent on making cosmetic tweaks, like fragmented and reactive funding, while ignoring the core issue: the system was never set up to work properly in the first place. 'Every announcement to date from this coalition has tinkered around the edges to make the numbers look prettier, rather than prompting genuine change that benefits our tamariki, their whānau, kaiako, kaimahi, and the wider communities. 'Today's report shows decades of neglect, growing pressure, and a workforce pushed to breaking point. The Government's cancellation of 33 pay equity claims–many of which affect teachers and support staff–makes it blatantly clear they're not serious about fixing it. 'Further, the new Education and Training Amendment Bill completely fails to recognise the actual need of our education system. 'The Greens' plan lays out real solutions. As a starting point: nationalising ECE, expanding free school lunches, and building a learning support system where every child belongs. 'Our plan will put children's wellbeing at the centre of decision-making and policy, where it should have been all along,' says Lawrence Xu-Nan. Notes: The report can be found in full here. Learning support can be defined as '... the systems, services, and personnel designed to ensure that all mokopuna—including those with neurodivergence, disabilities, health needs, or experiences of trauma—can access, participate in, and progress through the curriculum on an equitable basis.' (Beyond Capacity: Learning Support in Crisis, p.5).
