Trevor Mallard

Labour's Education spokesman Trevor Mallard today called on Education Minister Anne Tolley to make public the terms of reference for the new advisory group she has set up to monitor progress on her controversial National Standards scheme.

"Parents have the right to expect that the handpicked group will not be used by Mrs Tolley to push her ideological views, but instead will be given sufficient room to undertake rigorous and objective analysis which will be reported publically. That starts with publically issuing the terms of reference," Trevor Mallard said.

"It is worrying that Mrs Tolley still cannot explain in plain English how the scheme will work and how it will lead to improved education for schoolchildren across New Zealand.

"With so much confusion and doubt about the supposed merits of the scheme the group should be given the power to recommend it be trialled before being rolled out around New Zealand."