Chief Ombudsman formally notifies Ministry of Education of investigation

The Chief Ombudsman, John Allen, has formally notified the Ministry of Education of his investigation into practices within the Ministry of Education’s Curriculum Centre including alleged attempts to circumvent the Official Information Act.

“I will be looking at various practices including whether the Ministry’s Curriculum Centre staff have either deliberately failed to make records or have been told not to do so.

“My investigation will concentrate on administrative conduct and whether the Ministry has met its legal obligations under the Official Information Act and the Public Records Act.

“I will not be considering any substantive advice or decision making relating to the curriculum itself.

“As the investigation is now underway, I will be making no further comment.”