‘Valuable’ chance to gather regional perspectives

PHOTO: RUBY SHAW
PHOTO: RUBY SHAW
Education Minister Erica Stanford speaks to members of the Dunstan Kāhui Ako (community of learning) Kapa Haka in Alexandra, yesterday. 

Mrs Stanford was there to attend  the Kāhui Ako Regional Hui, where she spoke in front 74 educators from 14 kāhui ako across Otago and Southland. 

Speaking to the ODT afterwards, Mrs Stanford said she was  pleased to be in Alexandra, one of the first education ministers to visit the town in recent memory.

"It’s not often that ministers of education get out to places like Alexandra.

"The fact the students came and performed their amazing haka was just an incredibly nice touch", she said 

"What a great opportunity to be able to take up the invitation from the Kāhui Ako groups to have come and have a chat to teachers."

It was "extremely valuable" to reach areas away from the main centres to gather a different range of perspectives, she said.