Role Funding:Leading education leaders are sounding the alarm, expressing grave concerns about the Government’s vision for the future of schooling in Aotearoa. The New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF) says recent policy signals from Ministers paint a worrying picture for students, teachers, and school communities – warning that a lack of clarity and strategic direction risks undermining equity, inclusion, and learning success. At the heart of the federation’s concerns is what they describe as an absence of a “coherent, long-term plan” for education. “We need a clear, well-thought-out vision that reflects the voices of those who are in schools every day – teachers, principals, and whānau,” Pokere-Helu said. As the debate continues, principals hope that the Government will listen to the voices coming from school communities – because, they argue, a confident, well-supported education system benefits every whānau and every child across New Zealand.