David Seymour Criticises Student Climate Strike, Says Youth Should Be 'In School, Not Marching'

Mr Seymour said improving attendance is central to the Government’s long-term vision for education and national development.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has sparked fresh debate over student activism and school attendance after criticising students taking part in today's climate strike demonstrations, arguing that young people would make a greater contribution to society by attending classes and focusing on their education.

Mr Seymour said students skipping school to protest should be marked as having "explained but unjustified absences," signalling a tougher stance from the Government on student participation in political demonstrations during school hours.

"The previous government said protesting instead of attending school could be justified. In my view, that is unacceptable," Mr Seymour said.

"My expectation is that schools will treat students protesting today as explained but unjustified absences."

The comments come as climate activists across New Zealand organise demonstrations calling for stronger action on climate change, emissions reductions, and environmental policy.

However, unlike the massive school climate strikes that swept the country in 2019 — when an estimated 170,000 students reportedly participated nationwide — today's protests appear significantly smaller in scale.

Mr Seymour pointed to the reduced turnout as evidence that attitudes around school attendance are shifting.

"The silver lining is that we've come a long way since 2019, when around 170,000 students took the day off school," he said.

"Only a fraction of that number is taking part now. That is evidence that attitudes towards school attendance are improving as the Government, schools, parents, and students make it a priority."

Government Pushes Stronger School Attendance Expectations

The Minister's remarks align with the Government's broader campaign to improve school attendance rates, which have become a major education policy focus following years of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and declining regular attendance figures.

Education data in recent years has shown persistent concerns around chronic absenteeism, with officials warning that prolonged disengagement from school can significantly affect long-term academic achievement, employment prospects, and social outcomes.

Mr Seymour argued that consistent attendance is essential to improving life opportunities for young people and said students concerned about the future should channel their energy into education.

"I appreciate some students have passionate views and feel anxious about their futures," he said.

"To them I say: if you want to make real change in the world, you need to turn up to school and get a good education now."

Education experts have long linked regular school attendance to improved literacy, higher qualification rates, better employment outcomes, and stronger long-term health indicators.

Mr Seymour reinforced those arguments, saying education remains the foundation for social and economic mobility.

"Attending school is the first step towards achieving positive educational outcomes," he said.

"Those outcomes lead to better health, higher incomes, greater job stability, and stronger participation in communities. These are opportunities every student deserves."

Debate Rekindled Over Student Activism and Civic Participation

The Minister's comments are likely to reignite debate over the role of political activism in schools and whether students should be permitted to miss classes for social or environmental causes.

Supporters of student climate strikes argue the demonstrations have played an important role globally in raising awareness about climate change and pressuring governments to adopt more ambitious environmental policies.

Critics, however, say students should prioritise education and participate in political activity outside school hours.

Mr Seymour suggested students wanting to demonstrate commitment to climate issues could instead protest during weekends.

"If students want to show how much this cause means to them, they could march on Saturday in their own time," he said.

"That would send a stronger message than taking a day off school."

The issue has become increasingly politically charged since the global "School Strike for Climate" movement first gained momentum, led by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and later embraced by students across New Zealand and internationally.

Previous governments had generally taken a more permissive approach toward student participation in climate strikes, with some schools allowing students to attend under parental approval.

The current Government's position signals a shift toward stricter expectations around classroom attendance and educational accountability.

Attendance Crisis Remains Key Education Challenge

The Government has repeatedly identified school attendance as one of the most urgent challenges facing the education sector.

Officials have warned that persistent absenteeism contributes to lower academic performance and wider inequality, particularly among disadvantaged communities.

Recent attendance initiatives have included:

• National attendance targets

• Greater monitoring of absenteeism

• Increased engagement with parents and caregivers

• Public campaigns promoting regular attendance

• Stronger expectations around justified absences

Mr Seymour said improving attendance is central to the Government's long-term vision for education and national development.

"I encourage students, parents, and educators to prioritise education," he said.

"That is what this Government is doing, and it is what New Zealand needs for a better future."

The remarks are expected to draw mixed reactions from educators, parents, and climate advocates, with some supporting the emphasis on education while others argue student activism remains an important form of democratic participation.