40213 (2025). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education

40213 (2025). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education: In response to Reply 38759 (2025), why did the Minister claim then that single-cell classrooms benefit Māori students if she has received no evidence to substantiate that claim?

Hon Erica Stanford: The Ministry of Education (the Ministry) is developing standard building layouts based on research into modern, flexible learning environments, supporting a shift toward adaptable classroom designs that prioritise all student needs and local context over a one-size-fits-all, open-plan approach. I am advised that the Ministry has considered: · research findings from New Zealand and internationally on how different learning environments impact student engagement, achievement, and wellbeing · equity and accessibility considerations, including evidence that open-plan classrooms may not meet the needs of all learners equally · feedback from educators, school leaders, and parents, some of whom raised concerns about noise, distraction, and the suitability of open-plan environments for students with additional learning needs · reviews of existing flexible learning spaces, which showed mixed results and highlighted the importance of teacher readiness, support, and professional development in making such environments effective · practical and cost-related factors, such as the complexity and expense of retrofitting open-plan spaces to more traditional layouts if they don’t work well in practice.