Stupidity or Malice?

Bill English is understandably upset that the Secretary of Education and Acting Head of NZQA have sent out a letter, just seven days before the election, to every parent reassuring them that there will be no repeat of the Scholarship mess of last year and that the system is designed to help all students achieve to the best of their ability.

During the six week period of an election campaign, there are strict protocols about communications from Government Departments. It is either the height of stupidity or a deliberate malicious act to send such a letter out in the final week of an election.

It doesn’t matter whether or not it is part of a pre-planned communications plan. The question is whether there was any compelling reason for the letter not to be sent after the election. Unless the answer is that there was, then the timing is grossly inappropriate.