Gag plan angers teacher unions

The State Services Commission wants to gag principals and teachers from criticising the Government.

The public service watchdog invited the Principals Federation and primary school union NZEI to talk about including schools and boards of trustees in the Standards of Integrity and Conduct code.

The code, which covers government departments and district health boards, states that it is unacceptable for employees to comment on government policy if it constitutes a "personal attack" on a minister, work colleagues or other state servants.

The move has incensed unions representing thousands of principals and teachers, who are concerned they will not be able to "speak their mind" on matters such as national standards.

But in a show of camaraderie, Education Minister Anne Tolley has thrown her support behind the unions. It is understood she contacted State Services Minister Tony Ryall to get the process stopped.

The commission has agreed to a postponement but will revisit the plan next year.

Mrs Tolley said if schools and boards were added to the code, it would not stop them from speaking out. "To claim the code of conduct has anything to do with muzzling schools and their opinions on any subject is ludicrous."

Federation president Ernie Buutveld came away from the November 17 meeting "shaking his head".

"I tried to keep my cool but it was hard," he said. "This is simply ... not the Kiwi way and it has rung alarm bells. This idea has to be stopped. It makes no sense."

The Principals Federation has about 2300 members.

NZEI president Frances Nelson was scared teachers and principals would be prevented from speaking out on education matters. NZEI has about 48,000 members.

"We have huge concerns about this. It seems like they are trying to restrain us from having an opinion. It seems crazy to think we could live in a country where this type of thing could happen."

Each school's board of trustees, which employed teachers and principals, already had its own code of conduct. Teachers were also subject to the Teachers Council's code of ethics. "To go any further is very concerning and we are very wary."

The commission monitors government departments and advises on integrity and conduct in the public sector.

Commission spokesman Jason Ryan said adding schools and boards of trustees to the code was about ensuring there was a high level of trust in state servants. Asked if it would mean principals and teachers could not criticise government policy, he said: "There's quite a lot of work to be done to determine exactly what the detail will be."

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