The Ministry of Education and IHC have settled a litigation case to enable the New Zealand education system to work better for disabled students.
Framework for action
The settlement resolves an IHC complaint under the Human Rights Act 1993, alleging that Government education policies led to discrimination and disadvantage for disabled students in local schools.
We have committed to a framework for action proposed by IHC, that addresses education system barriers for disabled students.
It requires the Ministry to investigate several areas of education, such as data collection and reporting, access to specialist support services, infrastructure, and curriculum.
Framework for Action: A quality education for all framework
www.education.govt.nz/foa
We will work with a stakeholder group including representatives from disability communities to ensure lived experience informs our work.
Expressions of interest for the stakeholder group
We are seeking expressions of interest to be part of a stakeholder group which will support us to progress the actions in the Framework for Action.
The group will have 6 to 8 members. IHC will have 2 permanent members of the group, one of whom will chair the group. We are seeking members with the following attributes:
- lived experience of being a disabled person participating in the education system.
- tāngata whaikaha Māori and Pacific peoples perspectives.
- knowledge and/or experience of supporting a disabled person through their education pathway.
- experience within the education sector.
- awareness of the current priorities concerns and barriers for disabled ākonga and their whānau.
Members will have the opportunity to engage with work being led by us and input and feedback on its development.
The group will operate for a minimum of 6 years. The membership term will be at least 3 years. The group will meet 3 times a year (likely in February, June and October).
We may pay members at our discretion and reimburse travel expenses as required.
You can apply to be a member of this group by submitting an expression of interest before 11 January 2026.
Apply to be a member
Online form
Expression of Interest (EOI) form for IHC stakeholder group
education.surveymonkey.com/r/IHCEOI
Downloadable form
Expression of Interest form for stakeholder group
www.education.govt.nz/ihc
Easy Read form
Expression of Interest form for stakeholder group
www.education.govt.nz/ihc
Contact us
If you have questions:
subject line: ‘IHC Settlement Agreement’
- free call (NZ only) 0800 4711 711 between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
- If you are Deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, speech impaired or find it hard to talk, you can contact the Ministry of Education through the New Zealand Relay service. www.nzrelay.co.nz
More information
A quality education for all
www.education.govt.nz/qed
