Friday, 13 December 2013

This is the last post of the 2013 year. See you all back on 7 January.

Minister thanks New Zealand School Trustees Association members

Hekia Parata | Education
Today, Education Minister Hekia Parata hosted the NZSTA National Board Members and Regional Chairs to thank them for the support they have provided to school boards of trustees throughout the year. “NZSTA has played an important part in supporting boards across the country to deliver on the Government’s relentless focus of raising student achievement,” says Ms Parata. ...

Teachers' trust in Novopay lost

Stuff.co.nz
Schools throughout the country complained they had no idea how much leave staff had earned or used after Novopay readjusted all sick leave entitlements. "Novopay has identified that as a major focus, as something they need to get right," Ms Curran said.

Principals want more counsellors

Stuff.co.nz
An Education Review Office (ERO) report issued this week said there needed to be a review of the way guidance counsellors were allocated to schools, based on the number of students. The Ministry of Education commissioned the report and said providing ...

Teachers' expectations of Maori special needs children too low

Radio New Zealand
A Massey University researcher says her studies show teachers whoeducate Maori special needs children have low expectations of their pupils. Associate Professor Jill Bevan-Brown, (of Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Wehiwehi, Ngati Awa and Ngai Te Rangi), has ...

Schools going separate ways

Manawatu Standard
It will continue to operate under the hub of Tai Wananga, a branch of the national Maori education organisation, Te Wananga o Aotearoa. Tai Wananga is based at Ruakura, Hamilton, under principal Toby Westrupp who will have a site leader in Palmerston ...

School wins court costs fight

Stuff.co.nz
Tony Simpson. IAIN McGREGOR/Fairfax NZ. FIRST WIN: Phillipstown School principal Tony Simpson hugs a parent after news of a High Court ruling that Education Minister Hekia Parata's decision to merge it with Woolston School was unlawful. Hekia Parata.

Phillipstown School Gets $100000 Costs Against Minister

Christchurch schools closing their doors one last time

Nine Christchurch schools are preparing to close their doors for the final time in the next few days as part of the Ministry of Education's post-quake shake-up.Kendal School is having a closing ceremony this morning.Board trustee...

Government silent on surplus money reaped from Student Loans

The government has remained strangely silent on a report released this week showing that repayments on student loans in the last year have run almost $200 million ahead of forecasts.

Institute hosts Oman education delegation

Massey News (press release)
The participants speak different dialects of their language so the course also highlighted diversity within New Zealand schools and emphasised Māori and Pasifika teaching. The group was welcomed to Massey by a powhiri from institute staff and on their ...

MAGS looks to future

Auckland stuff.co.nz
As a result of the roll growth the Ministry of Education has signed off on funding for the equivalent of 19 new classrooms, estimated to cost between $5 million and $10m. Mr Burden says a ... "It's a classroomthat's a bit more flexible," Mr Burden ...

University left me with debt and no skills

Stuff.co.nz
University left me with debt and no skills. JOHN LAWRENCE ...Universities need to look at what their students need in their first years in the workplace and provide the knowledge that will really help them and their employers. Conceptual knowledge is ...

Farmer's legacy helps students

Stuff.co.nz
Since 1997, about 400 students have received a share of nearly $2 million from the David Johnstone Charitable Trust science and educationscholarships. This year marks the 18th anniversary of Mr Johnstone's scholarship for students, which were ...

From school dropout to PhD

Stuff.co.nz
It wasn't until she was 23, and heard she could get automatic entry to university, that she decided to give education another crack. "For the first three years while I was doing my bachelor's I had no idea what I was doing, I was just kind of feeling ...

Thursday, 12 December 2013

Questions and Answers – December 11

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Chris Hipkins: Does she stand by her decision to stick with the failed national standards, given that her own ministry has advised her that national standards have incorrectly measured the achievements of around four out of every 10 students, that ...

Time for teaching to be a profession

Leading education systems regard teaching as a career not a vocation · Higher qualification requirements ensure only the best become teachers · Linking pay to expertise, not experience, retains talent and recognises teachers · Encouraging schools to collaborate ...

NZ School Counselling Failures in an International Context

The recent Education Review Office Report that found the quality of school counselling to be less than adequate for students sits right within the framework of the international outcome evidence for counselling services worldwide, and the common denominator for ...

AUT scholars take their talent global

Kelsen Findlay remembers the sense of awe he and classmates had at the start of their degree that one of their peers had scored an internship at Saatchi & Saatchi, Auckland.Now, the 21-year-old, who has just completed his studies...

University of Auckland student president to lead NZUSA

The nationwide membership of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations today elected Daniel Haines, 23, to be the NZUSA President for 2014.

Tuesday & Wednesday, 10-11 December 2013

Speech to the NZ OECD Conference on ECE

Hekia Parata | Education
Talofa lava, Kia orana, Mālō e lelei, Ni sa bula vinaka, Taloha ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, and greetings to you all. Welcome everyone to the New Zealand Early Childhood Education and Care conference, organised in cooperation with the OECD. I wish to extend a warm welcome, in particular, to all the OECD representatives and partner countries who have travelled a long way to be here today - it is a great pleasure to welcome you to New Zealand. I’m delighted to be here and to give some opening comments to this conference. ...

PM’s Scholarships for Asia announced

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced that 89 outstanding New Zealand students have been selected to study at top education institutions in Asia next year as part of the inaugural Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia. Mr Joyce says the scholarships, which cover study periods from six weeks to two years, will enable undergraduate and postgraduate students to gain a deeper understanding of Asia. ...

NZ's education report card disappoints

Auckland stuff.co.nz (blog)
The Government should focus on those things that much research suggests will raise student outcomes: a positive family environment (and education policy is just one lever here), quality classroom teaching and school leadership. The partnership school ...

High achieving Pacific youth recognised at Parliament

Radio New Zealand
A top netballer who wants to improve Pasifika education and a former gang affiliate turned good are among the recipients of this year's Prime Minister's Pacific youth awards. The awards recognise outstanding achievement among young Pasifika leaders.
PM's Pacific Youth Awards winners announced

Damning child poverty findings and educational achievement inextricably linked

The government needs to stop ignoring child poverty if it wants to improve educational achievement.

Schools struggle as more students seek help

More students are seeking help from counsellors and guidance services - and a report has found many school services are struggling under pressure or simply not up to scratch.The Education Review Office has raised concerns about...

Counsellors 'rushed off feet'

Stuff.co.nz
The scenario is compounded in Christchurch as students continue to deal with "post-earthquake anxiety", school and counselling representatives say. The Education Review Office (ERO) report into guidance and counselling in secondary schools, released ...

Students angry about teacher cull

Unitec students have lodged a complaint with the Qualifications Authority over the restructuring of the tertiary institute's flagship design and visual arts department.Students paying up to $7000 a year in fees have gone into bat...

Principals respond to IHC human rights case against Ministry

The IHC has rubbished Education Ministry claims that discrimination against children with special needs is not widespread.

Staff cut because of trade courses

Stuff.co.nz
Changes to Ministry of Education funding for college students in trades academies have frustrated principals, causing extra work and leading to staffing cuts at one school. Nayland College principal Rex Smith said his staff would be reduced by four ...

When is NZ going to appreciate its teachers?

Stuff.co.nz
The conversation du jour was New Zealand's freefall in the globaleducation stakes. Why has our country just incurred its worst performance on record in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Programme for International ...

Morning Business for 11 December 2013

The number of Maori students enrolled in the School of Medicine at Otago University has more than doubled in recent years; Meanwhile, the South Island's largest iwi and the University of Otago have re-signed a memorandum of understanding for Maori students; The Crown Forestry Rental Trust has approved funding for Ngapuhi hapu with land claims before the Waitangi Tribunal; Fewer Maori are smoking, according to the Census.

University and Ngai Tahu re-sign memorandum

Otago Daily Times
''It is one thing Ngai Tahu has struggled with for a long time was a good working relationship with all the tertiary institutions, and we have set up a joint venture to facilitate the entry of Maori into tertiary [education] and, in my view, it has ...

Students, staff farewell classes

Stuff.co.nz
Principal Vicki Barrie says when the Government funding was cut the Board of Trustees teamed up with the Birkenhead Licensing Trust to try to make community education financially sustainable. "Despite our best efforts . . . we haven't managed to do ...

Caution over PLD review

Otago Daily Times
Education Minister Hekia Parata's announcement there will be a review of professional learning and development (PLD) funding in schools has set alarm bells ringing for many Otago principals. ... She said the advisory group would include representatives ...

Bullying fears not taken seriously, say parents

Parents believe schools are not taking concerns about bullying seriously, new research suggests.

School in 'junior high' bid

Stuff.co.nz
A Blenheim primary school will apply to the Education Ministry next year to expand its site to become a "junior high". Richmond View School in Burleigh wants to start teaching young teenagers in years 9 and 10. Principal Dave Pauling said the school ..

Award-Winning Educator to Teach Te Reo Online

Ko Hikurangi te maunga, ko Waiapu te awa, ko Horouta te waka, ko Rongohaere te marae, ko Te Whānau a Rakairoa, ko Hinerupe ngā hapū, ko Ngāti te iwi. The “matriarch of Te Manga Māori”, Materoa Haenga will be the lecturer for EIT’s Bachelor of ...

Futureproof : Innovative Business Backs Startup Students

New Zealand’s biggest brands are backing the brightest entrepreneurs from Victoria University of Wellington to find innovative solutions startup-style. 

Youth Link supports students’ transition to workforce

A new programme is to be trialled in Hastings which will support local young people as they make the transition from school to employment. Hastings District Council has partnered with the Youth Futures Trust to pilot Youth Link, an innovative programme ...

Monday, 9 December 2013

Minister meets with Mayor of Christchurch

Hekia Parata | Education
Today, Education Minister Hekia Parata met with Christchurch’s mayor Hon Lianne Dalziel to brief her on the 10 year programme of restoring and renewing schools in greater Christchurch following the earthquakes. “This was a great opportunity to go through the details of the Government’s investment in 115 greater Christchurch schools set out in the final Business Case released in November,” says Ms Parata. That includes: ...

Minister meets with Phillipstown School

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata met with the Phillipstown Board of Trustees and Principal today to further discuss the on-going consultation process on the proposed merger with Woolston, following the High Court ruling on the judicial review brought by Phillipstown. ...

Have an education debate without jargon

The Dominion Post
Elites and ghettos. In one part of town we have decile-10 schools with predominantly rich Pakeha and Asian kids; in another part, decile-1 schools with predominantly poor Maori and Polynesian kids. Is that good for achievement overall? 6. Educating ...

Don't blame Novopay, baffled teacher told

Stuff.co.nz
A Wellington teacher almost $8000 out of pocket after months of Novopay stuff-ups is stumped about how to recoup his lost savings. Scottish-born Douglas Robb moved to New Zealand as the head of faculty for computing at Wainuiomata High School in 2004 ...

Time to panic over maths?

Stuff.co.nz
The news New Zealand has plunged in the OECD's Pisa league table, which ranks the educational performance of 15-year-olds around the world, has sparked an outburst of breast-beating and blame. Depending on who you ask, the culprit may be lack of good ...

The education debacle: How do we solve this problem?

Professor John Hattie - Expert on student learning PISA envy is rife at the moment as we quickly look to see who is at the top of the world rankings and then find New Zealand has slipped compared to previous rounds. This should...

International test results raise big questions for NZ

When an international report shows New Zealand's maths, science and reading scores for 15-year-olds are in "absolute freefall" - to quote Labour's education spokesman, Chris Hipkins - two questions emerge. One is, can we trust the...

Review education system - expert

A student learning expert has suggested a top-level review of the schooling system after international testing showed 15-year-olds had slipped in maths, science and reading.New Zealand fell from 7th to 13th in reading, from 7th...

IHC sues Education Ministry over children's access to schools

The disability lobby group, IHC, is taking the Education Ministry to court over alleged breaches of the Human Rights Act. It says schools are discriminating against children with disabilities because of the ministry's policies and systems.

Don't blame Novopay, baffled teacher told

Stuff.co.nz
A Wellington teacher almost $8000 out of pocket after months of Novopay stuff-ups is stumped about how to recoup his lost savings. Scottish-born Douglas Robb moved to New Zealand as the head of faculty for computing at Wainuiomata High School in 2004 ...

Readers become the authors

A novel approach to reading has kids blogging and commenting online about what should happen next in books - and authors follow the instructions.The Fiction Express initiative, already a hit with children in Britain and Australia,...

Funding cuts may affect night classes

3News NZ
But funding cuts and competition from the internet means the sector is in crisis, and some are questioning whether community education will soon be a thing of the past. Learning how to decorate a cake can be as simple as heading along to your local ..

Tertiary education restructure: Revamp mystifies arts commentator

The radical restructuring of Unitec's design and visual arts department has mystified many who took part in a quality assurance review of the school last year. Arts commentator Hamish Keith was one. "We formed the view that it was...

Switched on to learning 

A fully functioning coffee cart would probably be the last thing you'd expect to find in the reception area at Pt England Primary School.Turn up most weekday mornings before 8.45 and you'll find student baristas producing flat whites...

Teacher guilty of indecencies named

Auckland stuff.co.nz
While no schools were mentioned in the case, Shaw had previously taught at a number of schools in the wider Nelson area. Shaw was a teacher at Rai Valley School in 2010 but principal Angela Sloane declined to comment. Nelson College for Girls principal ...

Friday, 6 December 2013

Live chat: Education Minister Hekia Parata

Stuff.co.nz
This year also saw the final decisions for 19 schools in Christchurch - some were merged and others closed. National Standards results were released publicly for the second year and the government's new Charter Schools programme also hit the headlines.

Kindergarten teachers to protest around NZ today

Kindergarten teachers around the country will protest today against ongoing cuts to funding in their sector.The New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) said a rally outside Education Minister's Porirua office at 7.30am would launch...

Education system 'past use-by date' says Waikato principal

Stuff.co.nz
New Zealand's education system is "past its use-by date" and it is time to have a public debate about its future, a Waikato principal says. The comments come after New Zealand's education rankings plummeted in all core subjects, according to a new ...

Let's talk about NZ's education system

Stuff.co.nz
New Zealand's education system is ''past its use-by date'' and it's time to have a public debate about its future, a Waikato principal says. The comments come after New Zealand's education rankings plummeted in all core subjects, according to a new ...

OECD report points to need to resource all schools

waateanews.com
Green MP Catherine Delahunty says the latest OECD educationrankings shows the government is on the wrong track with its charter schools, especially when it comes to addressing Maoriunderachievement. The Greens held a forum at parliament yesterday ...

Editorial: Best teaching will require political will

New Zealand Herald
Thankfully, that, by and large, has not been the case with this country's sharp drop in international education rankings in an OECD survey that assesses the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old pupils in mathematics, reading and science in 65 countries ...

Where's the Accountability?

Claims that a Northland charter school that has received $1.6 million of public money has bought 81 hectares of farmland need immediate investigation, NZEI Te Riu Roa said today. A second round of charter school applications, due to start shortly, ...

Researcher of Maori children with special needs honoured

Radio New Zealand
The title recognises those who've made significant contributions to Matauranga Maori - Maori Education - and includes a taonga and $1500. Dr Bevan-Brown says a highlight of her more than 30-year-long career has been talking to tamariki and their whanau ...

Charter-school trust spent Govt money on farmland, MP reveals

New Zealand Herald
Education Minister Hekia Parata has requested a full briefing from her officials after revelations in Parliament that a trust in Northland spent Government money buying 81ha of farmland for a charter school it will be opening next year. New Zealand ...

David Hill: All praise to the nation's schools

In the aftermath of the Roast Busters revelations, voices muttered that our schools aren't teaching sexual morality.Now we hear that our 15-year-olds have slid down the international rankings in maths, science and reading. Teachers...

School to open in prefab buildings

Stuff.co.nz
NZ First deputy leader Tracey Martin claimed in Parliament today that the Nga Parirau Matauranga Trust, the sponsor of one of Northland's two charter schools, had bought a Northland farm only for building plans to be scuttled by the discovery of human ..

Thursday, 5 December 2013

Learning Media wind-down completed

Bill English | Education
The managed wind-down of Learning Media has been completed, Finance Minister Bill English and Education Minister Hekia Parata say. “The Learning Media board has managed the wind down in a way that provided certainty of provision for publications such as the School Journal, as well as ensuring staff were treated fairly,” Mr English says. ...

Live chat: Education Minister Hekia Parata

Stuff.co.nz
On Tuesday, it was revealed that New Zealand's education ranking has fallen from seventh to 18th in science, from 13th to 23rd in maths, and from seventh to 13th in reading, according to a report released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation ...

NZ falls in international education rankings

The UNICEF findings come hard on the heels of the latest OECD education report, which showed New Zealand sliding down international rankings in maths, science and reading. So is poverty holding children back at school?

Scientists says poor student results cause for concern

Scientists say New Zealand's poor performance in the OECD's international maths and science tests mean students are missing opportunities for high paying jobs.

Report shows NZ still not doing well enough for kids

The Unicef report is also critical of the Government response to the Children Commissioner's expert advisory group on child poverty. The Government adopted just 23 of the group's 78 recommendations aimed at reducing child poverty. Today's report says child poverty has remained a low priority for successive governments.

Gap widens between NZ students

The gap between 15-year-old students who are excelling and those who are failing has widened despite the Government's increased focus on the "tail" of educational achievement.A range of problems from poverty to curriculum changes...

National Gets Hammered Over Education

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“National's education policies have just taken a hammering in an international assessment which has heavily downgraded NZ student's achievements in maths, science and reading,” said MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira. “And yet they refuse to ...

Gordon Campbell on New Zealand's PISA education rankings

Scoop.co.nz
Overseas, the latest PISA results are being hailed as the final nail into the coffin of the state funded charter schools/private sector provision experiment. This negative relationship between school choice and reading, science and maths outcomes was ...

Education policies caused achivement drop

Stuff.co.nz
Instead of putting more focus on lifting teachers' professional practice, the National Government scrapped professional development for all areas of the curriculum - except a narrow focus on implementation ofNational Standards in reading, writing and ...
Opposition pounce on education survey
Education slide blamed on inequality
Kiwi students fall behind in basics

Parliament holds snap debate on education

NZ City
Mr Hipkins said National Standards - a benchmarking report system for parents - wasn't working and was nothing more than a bureaucratic exercise. The Green Party's Catherine Delahunty said teachers weren't getting enough professional development.
National tying schools up in red tape

NZ education on 'right track'

Stuff.co.nz
"So what National Standards do, and by the way - National Standards measure exactly was PISA has just measured - but instead of waiting three years for a sample of 4000, we are now working with every child, in every classroom year on year." Parata said ...

Dr Fiona Ell: Real issue is the gap, not rankings

Ranked lists seem to fascinate us. At this time of the year top 10s proliferate: books, music, political gaffes, and sporting moments. And everyone loves it when New Zealanders come out on top: winning the Booker Prize, topping the...

Teach your techies well

Stuff.co.nz
Dan Schectman says this country needs to teach entrepreneurship to its engineering, science and computing students, as they are the groups most likely to create start-up companies. Speaking at an event in Auckland last night, he said New Zealand also ...

Education International welcomes policy insights by PISA

Education International (EI) welcomes many of the policy insights today's release of the results of the 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) provides, especially ...

Martin Doyle cartoon: Anyone here order a PISA?

The best thing for the Minister of Education to do right now is to start listening receptively to expert commentators

Government fixing student slide - Parata

Stuff.co.nz
... 08:01 04/12/2013. FIRSTLINE/TV3. Hekia Parata talks to TV3's Firstline about NZ education ranking falling in an international report. ... "When we came into Government, we introduced National Standards, so that we would know, or at least the ...

Slippage blamed on lack of teachers

Stuff.co.nz
"Teachers make schools, not initiatives." New Zealand had "lost ...Canterbury University College of Education pro vice-chancellor Niki Davis said it had always been hard to recruit good mathematics and science teachers, particularly in physics and ...

Review of teacher PLD shows sector voices are being heard

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
NZSTA President Lorraine Kerr has welcomed the announcement that the provision of teacher professional development (now known asProfessional Learning and Development, or PLD) is being reviewed. “It's boards of trustees who employ the people who ...

Optimism in the early childhood sector is disappearing

Optimism in the early childhood education sector is sinking further, according to the latest ChildForum survey of ECE sector confidence and activity.

Fewer students enrolled in Tertiary Study in 2012

Fewer students enrolled in tertiary study in 2012, and fewer of them are taking out student loans, Statistics New Zealand said today. For the first time since interest-free student loans were introduced in 2006, the proportion of tertiary students taking ...

School principal unsure of legal rights during AOS lockdown

The principal of a Whangarei primary school has asked the Education Ministry to clarify his legal rights, after two parents insisted on taking their children away from the school during an Armed Offender Squad lockdown yesterday. A house in Mahana Place in the suburb of Raumanga was cordoned off in the afternoon, after reports of a violent incident there.

Richmond School - another great loss

Stuff.co.nz
The unnecessary stress imposed on staff, parents and especially children by the threat of closure of so many Christchurch schools and particularly the timing so soon after a major natural disaster when stability is so incredibly important is unforgivable.

Massey researcher wins top Māori award

A Massey researcher has won a prestigious Māori award for her work in helping indigenous children with special needs succeed in the education system. Associate Professor Jill Bevan-Brown (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Wehiwehi, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi) has ...

Wednesday, 4 December 2013

Kiwi students fall behind in basics

Auckland stuff.co.nz
It found 80 per cent of teachers surveyed by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) said the policy had not made a big difference to student achievement. The NZCER figures also showed that only 7 per cent of principals and 15 per cent ...

PISA results confirm education challenge

Hekia Parata | Education
Results of an international study show New Zealand is continuing to perform above the OECD average in reading, maths and science but has slipped against some countries, Education Minister Hekia Parata says. The 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study, which is carried out every three years, compares the performance of just over half a million 15-year-olds from 65 countries or economies across reading literacy, maths and science. ...

Hekia Parata reacts to OECD education report

Morning Report speaks with Education Minister Hekia Parata about the recent OECD report indicating New Zealand standards have dived.

New Zealand tumbles in international test of 15-year-olds

New Zealand has tumbled in a prestigious international ranking of 15-year-olds' abilities in maths, reading and science. Formerly among the top performing nations in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment, or Pisa, New Zealand is now outside the top ten nations in reading and science and barely above the average in maths.

What's behind NZ's drop in an international education table?

President of the Post Primary Teachers Association Angela Roberts and Auckland University primary teacher education lecturer Fiona Ell join us to discuss New Zealand's recent poor results in an international education league table.

NZ Principals' Federation and PPTA comment on OECD results 

The latest OECD education survey shows New Zealand 15 year old students' levels of maths, reading and science continue to drop. The largest slump was in maths where New Zealand dived from a ranking of 13th in 2009 to 23rd in 2012.

Drop in student rankings doesn't reflect new standards - minister

Education Minister Hekia Parata says New Zealand's slide in international rankings which measure achievement in maths, science and reading is not a Government failing because the students who sat the tests were not products of its...

Education slide blamed on inequality

3News NZ
Yesterday the OECD's Programme for International StudentAssessment (PISA) report showed Kiwi 15-year-olds had slipped from seventh out of 65 countries in reading and science to 13th and 18th respectively, and had also plummeted in maths, from 12th to ...

Opposition pounce on education survey

NZ City
Opposition parties say NZ's poor result in an OECD education survey shows National's education policy is failing students. 4 December 2013. Opposition parties are pouring the heat on the government after an ...The students tested have not been ...

Education worse under National – Greens

3News NZ
"The report states that high performing countries place high performing teachers in socially disadvantaged schools, yet National plans to staff their controversial charter schools with unqualified teachers." The Green Party has labelled the report a ...

Slow slide down rankings requires urgent action

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“Education Review Office evaluations also show the need for more contextual and student-centred learning and the better use of data to plan for student learning. We also have to ... “The review ofprofessional development is a start but this needs to ...

Census results released

Newstalk ZB
But the Maori language is in decline - with just one in five people who identify as Maori able to hold a conversation in the language. Incomes and rates of university education have increased in Gisborne since the last Census in 2006. But the city ...

Number of te reo Maori speakers declines in Census

Census data reveals the Maori population is growing and increasingly educated, but the number of te reo Maori speakers has continued to fall. The number of Maori speakers has been declining for almost two decades.

Fall in Te Reo speakers shocks kaihautu

Radio New Zealand
Kohanga Reo National Trust Board co-chair Tina Olsen-Ratana says Ministry of Education regulations have contributed to fewer under 15-year old Maori speaking their native language. Ms Olsen-Ratana says government policies have contributed to fewer ...
Kei te ahatia tō tātou reo?
Language on decline

Iwi leaders see light in charter schools

Radio New Zealand
A member of the education panel of the Iwi Chairs Forum, Haami Piripi, says iwi aren't ruling out investing in Charter Schools down the track. The forum agreed to focus on improving educational outcomes for Maori, at a hui last week. The country's ...

Jobs cut in design school restructure

Stuff.co.nz
The disestablishment of 50 jobs at Unitec is part of the "scourge of casualisation" affecting the country, the Tertiary Education Union says. A Unitec restructure will see the entire Design and Visual Arts Department made redundant with staff being ...

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Special needs students 'missing out'

Stuff.co.nz
The New Zealand Council of Education Research found that almost 40 per cent of primary school principals surveyed said there was insufficient support for students with special needs in their schools. South Canterbury Principals' Association chairman ...

Positive behaviour initiative is raising achievement

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata is pleased with a recent report showing a programme to address problem behaviour in schools is getting positive results for students across New Zealand. “In Budget 2013, this Government invested a further $63.5 million over four years to the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) initiative,” says Ms Parata. ...

Review of PLD announced

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced a review of the Ministry of Education’s Professional Learning and Development (PLD) expenditure in the schooling sector. “The Government invests more than $70 million each year in PLD to improve the skills of our teachers and education leaders. However, the long-term level of underachievement in our education system will not be shifted by doing what we have always done,” Ms Parata says. ...

Update on Novopay end of year progress

Steven Joyce | Education

Minister Responsible for Novopay Steven Joyce today released the report on complaints and notifications in regards to Pay Period 18 of the schools’ payroll. Pay Period 18, which was paid on the morning of 27 November, paid 89,785 people a total of $176.64 million. The report shows that complaints and notifications were received regarding 0.079 per cent of staff across the country, eight staff were notified as not paid, 38 were overpaid, and 25 underpaid. Affected staff were from 62 schools or 2.53 per cent of schools in the payroll system. ...

'Positive' feedback to proposed Teacher Council changes

Feedback around proposed changes aimed at opening up Teachers Council disciplinary tribunal proceedings have so far been positive, the council says.If implemented the changes would do away with automatic name suppression rules currently...

Keep colleges apart

Stuff.co.nz
About 90 per cent of those at the meeting supported having two schools on two sites, keeping single sex education. Only about 20 people supported a move to co-educational schooling. The main issue was the lack of space on the Marlborough Girls' College ...

Iwi leaders put education at the top of list

Radio New Zealand
Tribal leaders nationwide are rallying to put Maori education at the top of their priority lists. The Iwi Chairs Forum, attended by about 36 iwi leaders in Gisborne last week, passed a resolution to increase and accelerate investment into Maori-medium ...

Te Manu Korihi News for 3 December 2013

A member of the education panel of the Iwi Chairs Forum, Haami Piripi, says tribes aren't ruling out investing in Charter Schools down the track; Labour wants to gain the support of Maori voters, and is meeting with various iwi throughout the country to build links; Laid-off Tachikawa sawmill workers in Rotorua are relieved they'll get a partial payout within the next two weeks to help towards Christmas expenses; Organisers of the 2014 Ngapuhi Festival are expecting a crowd of up to 40-thousand people to arrive in Northland next month to see some of the best international indigenous artists exhibiting their works.

'Strategic blow' halts consultation

Stuff.co.nz
Phillipstown School has not resumed consultation with its community about its proposed merger because it believes the Education Ministry has been using flawed information "strategically designed to choke us". Principal Tony Simpson is calling for an ...

NCEA exams end today

More than 143-thousand students sat 116 exams in the past four weeks, and four more, the last exams of the season, are taking place this morning.

School survey raised sex abuse concerns

TVNZ
A Fairfax Media investigation has found that in 2010 staff involved in the Ministry of Health's Health Promoting Schools programme visited Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Oparure near Te Kuiti and handed out survey forms asking children what they liked and did ...

Tertiary education underspend worsens funding cuts

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
That includes $17 million that was budgeted for student achievement and $33 million that was budgeted for industry training but not spent. "$17 million is nearly one million each for every polytechnic in New Zealand," says Houkāmau, who works at ...

University academic awarded fellowship to study mentoring

University of Auckland academic Dr Pat Bullen has been awarded the 2014 Vodafone World of Difference Fellowship to further develop her expertise in youth mentoring.

Kindy teacher ate kids' lunch

Stuff.co.nz
Six Waikato teachers have also been barred from the classroom for having inappropriate sexual relations with students, including one case of underage abuse. This follows revelations by the Times last month that South Waikato school teacher Rueben James ...

Monday, 2 December 2013

Insights into the impact of National Standards in schools

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
NZCER chief researcher Dr Cathy Wylie presented on findings from theNational Standards questions in the survey at the New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE) conference in Dunedin on Thursday 28 November. The full survey results ...

National Standards Fail to Fire

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The New Zealand Council for Education Research (NZCER) study shows that less than 2% of school principals say that national standards data provide a reliable picture of student performance and only 16% of Boards of Trustees say that national standards ...

NZ education facing a bad report

New Zealand Herald
Ms Parata also announced that myriad programmes and their funding designed to support improved performance by Maori in education, such as Te Kotahitanga and Starpath, would be folded into a single programme called Building On Success. Read more ...

NCEA system fails students, say universities

Universities say high school students are coming to them under-prepared and with a poor work ethic - and they blame the NCEA system.A confidential report by the Tertiary Education Commission reveals a high level of concern in engineering...

Minister talks education priorities with Australian Ministers

Hekia Parata | EducationEducation Minister Hekia Parata met with her counterpart, Hon Christopher Pyne, Federal Minister for Education for Australia today at the Standing Council on School Education and Early Childhood Education in Sydney. ...

Is formal education starting too young?

A lecturer in education and developmental psychology at the University of Regensburg in Germany, Dr Sebastian Suggate, and a professor of education at Otago University, Helen May, discuss whether the trickle down effect of National Standards is formal education starting in year-1, and whether that's damaging developmentally to children.

Friday, 29 November 2013

National Standards survey dismissed

Stuff.co.nz
Education Minister Hekia Parata has dismissed research showingNational Standards have done more harm than good. In the latest figures out today, 80 per cent of teachers surveyed by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) said the ...

(RAINS) Final Report: National Standards and the Damage Done

Principals and Teachers slam National Standards

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Mrs Nowotarski said the NZCER study confirmed the findings of a three-year research project released yesterday by Waikato University into the effect of National Standards on schools and student learning. It found primary education in New Zealand has ...

Primary teachers find little gain in national standards

A lead researcher at the Council for Educational Research says teachers' views of national standards in reading, writing and maths have been tainted by their rushed introduction.

National Standards 'doesn't make much difference'

TVNZ
In the latest figures out today, 80 per cent of teachers surveyed by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) said the policy had not made a big difference to student achievement. EducationMinister Hekia Parata herself acknowledged ...
Minister disingenuous about National Standards funding

Four out of ten principals say special needs are underfunded

A survey conducted by the New Zealand Council of Education Research found that almost 40% of the primary school principals surveyed said there was insufficient support for students with special needs is a challenge in their school.

Bad report for Year 8s in writing and science

Children in their final year of primary or intermediate school are falling behind in writing and science, a new study shows.

More than $31 million for Building on Success

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced the Government will spend more than $31 million over the next three years to accelerate Māori secondary school student achievement, under the new Building on Success programme. Speaking at the Iwi Chairs Forum in Gisborne, Ms Parata said Building on Success would extend the great progress made through the current Māori achievement programmes, including Te Kotahitanga, He Kākano and Starpath. ...

Speech to the Iwi Chairs Forum

Hekia Parata | Education

Five years ago New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted National into Government. The National-led Government immediately set about implementing its plans, and we have made steady progress to help deliver more jobs and higher incomes for New Zealanders. We were also determined to focus on education; which we felt had been neglected for too long. We found quite a bit that needed attention. ...

Martin Thrupp: National Standards data fixation barrier to useful change

This year the Government has produced more than 100 regional and national infographics related to the National Standards in primary schools for anyone who wants to look at them. The data for individual schools is also online for the...

Damage of National Standards outweigh benefits

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
That's the view of University of Waikato Professor Martin Thrupp, who has just released the third and final RAINS (Research, Analysis and Insight into National Standards) report at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Association for Research in ...

Most teachers says national standards not worth the effort

Reports this week deliver bad news about the state of primary schools: one revealing most year-8 students are behind in writing and science, and; a Waikato University study says the national standards in reading writing and maths are doing more harm than good.

NZ education facing a bad report

Education Minister Hekia Parata is preparing for an embarrassing drop in New Zealand's education rankings in an international survey next week.She says a drop in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) is...

Funding boost for Maori schools

Stuff.co.nz
The Government will pour more than $31 million into Maori secondary school students to lift achievement levels, Education Minister Hekia Parata has announced. Speaking at the Iwi Chairs Forum in Gisborne, Parata said the new Building on Success ...
More than $31 million for Building on Success

NZ set to slip on international education table

New Zealand Herald
She indicated it was modelled on an existing local model run with the Whanganui Iwi Education Authority and private education provider Cognition Education. The stated aim of the programme is to achieve accelerate and equitable outcomes for Maori ...

Joyce and Francey argue funding again | TEU - Tertiary Education ...

Lesley Francey told National Radio's Morning Report on Tuesday that the government needs to increase the rate of funding per student to reduce.

Teacher turns maths into fun

Auckland stuff.co.nz
"As soon as you stand in front of a classroom of kids you need to dazzle with inspiration," he says. "If you have strong knowledge that is a way to inspire them or even how to look at things and share your insights." Mr Choong dazzles with the most ...

Thursday, 28 November 2013

Study raises concerns about National Standards

Primary and intermediate school teachers are being overworked and some subjects are prioritised at the expense of others, says a study into National Standards.The latest report from the Research, Analysis and Insight into National...

Research says school national standards do more harm than good

New research says the national standards in reading, writing and maths are doing more harm than good and recommends reporting school results should stop.

Research says school national standards do more harm than good

A second report in two days has highlighted concerns about primary and intermediate students' performance in key subjects.

Education Minister defends national standards

The Education Minister, Hekia Parata defends the use of national standards.

80 percent of year 8 students don't meet science level

Primary and intermediate students continue to cause concern with their performance in core subjects, with science identified as a particular problem area.

Lack of support for science teaching - decline in confidence

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“For four years this vital part of the curriculum has been neglected while the government continues its obsession with the reporting of National Standards. “Cutting that service resulted in a big gap in teachers' professional development and this ...

Big Five may defy PPTA

New Zealand Herald
The Ministry of Education has written a draft memorandum of understanding to ensure smooth operations between the schools and the two partnership schools due to open next year. The document is landing on the desks of the boards of trustees of Whangarei ...

Otago expecting increase in student numbers

Student numbers are expected to increase at the University of Otago next year, turning around three years of declining enrolments at the institution.The prediction student numbers would increase by 1.7 per cent to 18,918 full-time...

Internet use speeds ahead

Auckland stuff.co.nz
Prime Minister John Key and education ministers Hekia Parata and Nikki Kaye attended the official launch on Tuesday where pupilsdemonstrated the new technology. Principal Bruce Barnes says the new network is making a huge difference already.

Wednesday, 27 November 2013

Science & Society project to lift achievement in maths & science

Steven Joyce | Education
Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced the Science and Society project, a unique joint education-science sector plan to lift engagement and achievement in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) across New Zealand. ...

$10.5m funding boost for maths & science in schools

Steven Joyce | Education
The Government is providing $10.5 million in additional funding for schools to raise student achievement in maths and science, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today. “Boosting the skills and achievement of our young people in maths and science are essential for their future careers and for New Zealand’s economic growth and prosperity,” Mr Joyce says. ...

Pasifika education profile released

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata today released information on the educational performance and outcomes of Pasifika students, from early childhood education through to NCEA. “The information delivers on my commitment to provide public metrics on education performance, so that parents and the wider community know where success is occurring but just as importantly where we can work together to lift achievement,” Ms Parata says. ...

Maths, science focus of $10.5m in extra school funding

The Government is providing $10.5 million in extra school funding to improve student achievement in maths and science.An extra $7 million over the next four years would be put into two existing programmes - Accelerated Learning...

Pasifika education standards rise, but still lag behind national averages

Pasifika early childhood education participation rates and national standards achievement levels have increased slightly in the past year, but still remain well below national averages, new figures show.The data, released today...

Maori used to justify school ideology

waateanews.com
... Isaac, a former ACT president, says the decision means that, from Term 1 2015, more children from Maori, Pasifika and low income backgrounds whose needs are not currently being met will have a better chance of achieving their potential in education.

Māori communities want best sexuality education for children

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
'Without exception, schools that are teaching in the Māori language want to partner with organisations like ours to develop quality sexualityeducation programmes. The Māori families we work with are very, very keen. They want programmes that teach ...

N4L goes live as 100 schools sign-up for new network

Techday NZ
At an event to mark the first live N4L connection today, Associate Minister of Education Nikki Kaye also announced that 100 schools have signed agreements with N4L to join Massey on the managed network. In addition, a further 100 schools are being ...
First school celebrates connection to managed network

Higher education agreement between France and NZ

Universities New Zealand and its French counterpart Conférence des Présidents d’Universités (CPU) to sign an agreement intended to promote exchanges between the two countries in the spheres of teaching, research and scholarship.

Meet a scientific star, a thought-provoking graph, and a killer quote about ...

Crikey (blog)
The importance of providing supportive and culturally appropriate environments for Indigenous higher education students was highlighted at the Closing the Credibility Gap symposium held in Melbourne last week. Marie McInerney writes: ... Ewen referred ...