United Future Policy Statement

 index

Education

Primary and Secondary Schooling

Policy Overview

United Future believes that schools have an important role to play in shaping engaging, confident and considerate citizens.

United Future supports the 1993 New Zealand Curriculum Framework, which states that attitudes and values, along with knowledge and skills are an integral part of the New Zealand Curriculum.

Education throughout life is based on four pillars: learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together and learning to be. Values education based on honesty, reliability, respect for others, respect for the law, tolerance, fairness, caring and social responsibility are important in preparing young New Zealanders for participation in New Zealand society. United Future believes that character education must be integrated between schools and communities.

United Future Will:

  • Require schools to implement a character education ethos in their school curriculum in accordance with the 1993 Curriculum Framework by establishing character education grants to schools, to train teachers in methods of incorporating character building lessons and activities in the classroom.
  • Review the exisitng 1993 Curriculum Framework and introduce a stronger philosophical base needed to broaden children’s thinking skills by teaching children ‘how to think’ rather than ‘what to think’.
  • Establish links between the private sector and schools in order to facilitate community involvement and support for character education.
  • Realise that different communities and cultures have differing values and therefore support ‘a community by community’ approach to character education.


United Future Parliamentary Office: Bowen House, Lambton Quay, Wellington
Email: Phone: (04) 471 9890