The passing of the Education Legislation Bill will provide better flexibility for parents, students, school boards and early childhood education providers, says Education Minister Hekia Parata.

Passing its third and final reading in Parliament on Thursday, the Bill amends several Acts, including the Education Act 1989, which will provide 'further flexibility for school communities”.

'It gives schools the flexibility they've been seeking to cater their timetables to the particular needs of their students.

'Schools will be able to vary their opening hours with the agreement of their community, as long as it does not result in students being in school less than students in comparable schools.”

Hekia says the Bill also enables home-based ECE providers to offer out of school care to children aged 13 and under, providing flexibility for families with pre-school and school-age children so their children can be cared for together.

'It also gives school boards the options to agree to a principal managing more than one school and to appoint students of approved initial teacher education programmes to paid trainee teacher positions.”

In addition, the Bill ensures the Ngarimu VC and 28th Māori Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Act 1945 continues to recognise the service of Second Lieutenant Te Moananui a Kiwa Ngārimu and the 28th Battalion in World War II in ways relevant for the 21st century.

'This Bill will improve and modernise administrative and governance arrangements across the education sector, and ensure that it responds to what our children and young people need.”