Thursday, 1 August 2013

Charter schools: Govt negotiates with final four

The Government is believed to be negotiating with a final four organisations over their proposals to set up charter schools, including a military prep school for teens which Act leader John Bank's son attended.APNZ understands the... 

Passions high over Bible in schools

Schools are going through the "hurtful" process of choosing to drop religious instruction, with boards of trustees working through passionate arguments from parents on both sides of the debate.The Herald was flooded with correspondence...

drop-out rates clear in new data

Stuff.co.nz
According to figures from the Tertiary Education Commission, released to the Waikato Times under the Official Information Act, an average of 4854 first-year students have dropped out each year between 2010 and 2012. Although the University of Waikato ...

Bad behaviour costly

A group of students with severe behavioural problems has cost taxpayers more than $10 million over four years, but a new support service is helping to keep them in mainstream schools. 

4700 school suspensions bring call for a new approach

Schools have handed down more than 4,700 suspensions in the past 18 months, with one high school using the punishment more than 100 times.The numbers have prompted a call for a major overhaul of the way schools keep difficult children... 

Law group wants change after claims of illegal expulsions

Schools are illegally pressuring difficult students to leave and an independent authority needs to be set up to review expulsions and exclusions, a community law advocate says.The push for change comes as figures obtained by the... 

Partnership Schools to lift education standards

Indian NewsLink
Partnership schools are targeted at lifting achievement in low decile areas and disadvantaged communities that have been underserved by the education system. These are groups such as Maori, Pasifika, low socio-economic and special needs children. 

Charter School Overreaction Narrow Minded

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Charter School Overreaction Narrow Minded. Conservative Party Leader Colin Craig recommends David Shearer listens to Sir Ken Robinson's TED talk on schools and creativity, and considers a more broad minded approach to Partnership (Charter) schools. 

NZEI Te Riu Roa complaint forces charter schools revelation

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The Ministry of Education has finally been forced to reveal the names of organisations who have shown an interest in setting up a charter school in New Zealand. The release follows a complaint from NZEI Te Riu Roa to the Ombudsman earlier this year ... 

School misses out on more funding

Stuff.co.nz
The school would also have had to attract more Maori, Pasifika, low-income and special needs pupils, whose better achievement the Government has said are the targets of partnership schools. Peter said "we already have those groups and they have ... 

Pacific students' performance lift strategy focus

Otago Daily Times
The ''Pacific Strategic Framework (2013-2020)'', which had been about two years in the making, was launched at an event attended by representatives from the Pacific community and the Ministry of Education at Otago University yesterday. Deputy vice ... 

Wireless school opens i-library

Stuff.co.nz
The school is the first in West Auckland to introduce tablets into the classroom. Year 9 students received Samsung Galaxies which they can take home and use for schoolwork and homework. In March students attended workshops with Waitakere Central ... 

Open access policy a first for university

Techday NZ
... alliance, and the potential to support literacy and the joy of reading in our district,” says Carnaby. “We want to connect to the 26 schools in the Selwyn district and extendlearning opportunities through both the University and the public ... 

Engineering students use technology to clean up environment

A smartphone app and website which the public can use to report incidents of environmental pollution have been developed by students at Victoria University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science. 

Students get on the ground access to region’s top biz minds

The Wellington Regional Strategy (WRS) Committee has teamed up with Victoria University and Grow Wellington to introduce a new initiative that will see students gain onsite industry experience as part of their studies by interviewing the region’s top business ... 

ACE Place – Building Learning Communities

What did you learn today? It’s a question often asked of children at the end of the school day but one we rarely ask an adult. ACE Aotearoa Director, Jo Lake says this is surprising given that learning doesn’t stop once people leave school or ...

Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Special education school transport complaints process improved

Nikki Kaye | Education Associate Education Minister 

Nikki Kaye has today announced a new complaints process and more accessible information for the special education school transport assistance (SESTA) services. This is one of the first outcomes of a review carried out by the SESTA Reference Group which is made up of representatives from the education sector, families who use SESTA services, and transport operators. The group has also developed an accessible brochure (available from 2 September) that will help families have better information about the service. ... 

Parents and teachers will welcome Labour's rejection of charter schools

Both parents and teachers will welcome Labour's announcement that it will speedily repeal charter school legislation if a Labour-led government is elected in 2014, NZEI Te Riu Roa President Judith Nowotarski says. 

Questions and Answers - July 30

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
... the architect of that policy we all know is not the Labour Party caucus, but Tony Alexander of the BNZ, and this is what Tony Alexander says about the very problem that the member is saying is a problem: “Here is a growing visceral perception that ... 

Revealed: Hand of God in schools

One in three state primary and intermediate schools teaches religious instruction, according to a survey which has triggered a debate over what children are being taught - and the value of it.The survey, sent to more than 1800 schools,... 

Massive Day for Maths in NZ

Primary and secondary school students in New Zealand will join hundreds of thousands of students from about 40 countries on Thursday 1 August to take part in the 36th annual Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank. 

Six things Kiwi kids should learn

There are some important skills New Zealand young people are missing out on, making them unprepared for the real world.

Truants taking advantage of new system

Small-town schools are paying the price for the Ministry of Education's new attendance service by funding their own truancy staff to round up students. 

Learning goes both ways

Auckland stuff.co.nz
STUCK IN: St Cuthbert's College student Cerys Chau was keen to sign up to volunteer with children at Ronald McDonald House for a second time. From left: Fletcher Hautapu,... "The way the students interact with the children is great. They don't just ... 

Uni building shuts because of quake risk

Almost 40 University of Canterbury staff and postgraduate students were moved out of their building today after engineers found it did not meet building code requirements. 

Lincoln University opens up access to research outputs

In a first for a New Zealand university, Lincoln University has implemented an open access policy, allowing staff and postgraduate students to make their research outputs including research data, teaching materials and public records, openly and freely ... 

Helen Clark to deliver lecture at The University of Auckland

The Rt Hon Helen Clark will present the 2013 Robert Chapman Lecture at The University of Auckland next month. Helen Clark became administrator of the United Nations Development Programme in April 2009 and the first woman to lead the organisation.

Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Labour promises to repeal charter schools

MSN NZ News
Labour is promising to scrap the government's controversial partnership schools if elected to government next year. Legislation to set up the state-funded, privately operated schools passed in June, and the government is expected to announce the first ...

Hundreds of kids dropping off school rolls

Hundreds of Waikato children disappear from the education system each year after failing to be enrolled in school - and, in some cases, authorities have no idea where they are. 

Call for more Maori male teachers

Radio New Zealand
The head of Maori studies at Rutherford College in Auckland says more should be done to encourage Maori males to become teachers. William Flavell joined the secondaryschool in 2012 after holding the same position at Whangarei Boys' High School. 

Parents putting holidays first

Wairarapa Times-Age
A Ministry of Education survey found about 62,000 students nationwide were absent from school for all or part of a day during an average week, with 15,000 skipping school without justification. Wellington schools - which include Wairarapa - had an ... 

Treasury-sponsored tertiary student workshops address long-term options for ...

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The Treasury, in conjunction with the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, is sponsoring a series of nationwide workshops starting in Dunedin tomorrow which will address long-term options to maintain prudent Crown finances in the decades ahead. 

Discipline for outspoken teacher

A teacher at a Maori immersion school who told off a student for reporting her abusive grandparent to Child, Youth and Family (CYF), has been found to have breached professional standards. 

Students get an insight into the world of IT

Auckland stuff.co.nz
The Papatoetoe High School student was one of 32 young people taking part in the Business Career Experience programme at Manukau Institute of Technology. The programme aims to give high school students an insight into the world of information ... 

Lincoln University rural leader programme addresses shortage

Lincoln University’s Kellogg Rural Leaders Programme is helping to shape the future of agribusiness and rural affairs in New Zealand, with applications opening 1 August for aspiring leaders to complete the course in 2014. 

Pupils busy buzzing with bees

Stuff.co.nz
Dawson Primary School's new white suits mean the students can enter their bee enclosure and extract honey without any risk of being stung. ... Student Aashantaey Tosua says it's helped her to learn a lot about bees and their place in the eco-system.

Monday, 29 July 2013

Caution urged as schools resume

NZ City
The Ministry of Education says schools in Wellington and Marlborough did not suffer any structural damage in the series of earthquakes, including a magnitude 6.5 which hit in the Cook Strait during the holidays, and will be open on Monday. NZN.

Truant 'no go' areas keeping kids in school

Manawatu's truant-free zones appear to be doing their jobs as the latest figures show fewer school children skip school here than their peers in other parts of the country. 

Thousands skip school

Hawke's Bay Today
While absence rates have remained stable in recent years, principals warn that parents taking advantage of cut-cost holidays during the school term are disrupting their children's education. A Ministry of Education survey shows 62,000 students ... 

International students' visit will help restore confidence in Chch

guide2.co.nz
As part of their Christchurch and Kiwi experience we want them to be able to make the most of a wonderful educational and life opportunity so they can return home and tell others about what we have to offer here. "The relationships we establish with ...

 

Editorial: Responsible parents don't make kids miss school

As schools resume today after their winter break they will have learning programmes prepared for all classes for the coming term. They ought to be able to expect the pupils to be present for the whole programme, barring illness. Unfortunately,... 

Two worlds of school rugby: Five schools spending $400,000 on 1st XVs

Schoolboy rugby in Auckland has lost any notion of egalitarianism and the world famous 1A competition is now divided along financial lines.The Herald's investigation into First XV rugby can reveal that five schools - Auckland Grammar,... 

Understanding special education from the perspectives of Pasifika families

The aim of this report is to identify the strengths of current service provision; barriers to accessing SE services for Pasifika; and the extent to which cultural perspectives on disability and SE and the low numbers of Pasifika professionals affected engagement and satisfaction with SE services for Pasifika families. 

Severance of $300k demanded

Leaked emailsreveal the former boss of one of the country's largest public tertiary institutions is seeking more than $300,000 in severance pay. 

University of Canterbury welcomes Ministerial appointments

University of Canterbury Chancellor Dr John Wood has welcomed the announcement of four Ministerial appointments to the University of Canterbury Council. “It’s a supportive mix blending current high-performing appointees with new appointments ... 

Whitireia Top Achiever

Whitireia continues to achieve at the very top of course and qualification achievement with scores of 83% and 78% respectively. The Education Performance Indicators are published annually by TEC and rank providers to assist prospective students to make ... 

Waiariki Institute of Technology performance 2012

Latest Government statistics have confirmed Waiariki Institute of Technology is among the fastest improving tertiary providers in New Zealand. 

Witt appoints new CEO

Stuff.co.nz
The former Sacred Heart Girls' College student is of Ngati Rahiri hapu o Te Atiawa descent. ''My roots are Taranaki, but my vision for Witt is global,'' she said. She is a graduate of Victoria University and holds a post graduate diploma in business ... 

Centre appoints international experts

Victoria University’s Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research has established a new International Advisory Board. 

Chief Executive Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki

Barbara George has been appointed chief executive of the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT). Ms George is currently the chief executive of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, one of Australia’s major performing arts companies, with a significant ... 

Musician, festival director joins CPIT

Liam Ryan joined CPIT’s Department of Creative Industries as the new Performing Arts Manager this week. He will lead the Jazz School and National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) degree programmes, CPIT is delighted to announce today.

Friday, 26 July 2013

New appointments to TEI councils

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced appointments to seven tertiary education institution councils, which include nine new council members across university and wānanga councils and a new appointment to the Open Polytechnic council. “I am pleased to welcome these high calibre council appointees into their new roles and to welcome the reappointment of a number of council members in recognition of the high-quality governance they have been providing to these institutions,” Mr Joyce says. ... 

Ministry ordered to release names of charter school applicants

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the Education Ministry release the names of 36 applicants wanting to set up charter schools.In a report released today Ombudsman Professor Ron Paterson has ruled there were no grounds for... 

Destiny Church declined for charter school

3News NZ
"We've been in the process all year, and shaping up a robust proposal with all the other applications," church spokesman Richard Lewis told NZ Newswire. "It's disappointing to get the news that it's been unsuccessful." Referred to by the Government as ... 

62,000 kids absent from class

Parents who remove their children from classes to take cheap flights and holidays are part of the reason 62,000 Kiwi kids miss school each week.Principals say rich and poor families are pulling their youngsters from school for travel... 

Shortening the skills gap

New Zealand Herald
More needs to be done to employ Maori and Pacific Islanders, more job-based training should to be put in place, and employers will have to work harder to retain their best staff. These are the views of Phil O'Reilly, chief executive of the peak ... 

Growing Support for Rural Schools

Rural schools around the country have been able to boost resources thanks to the help of farmers and fertiliser company, Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate Ltd. 

SIT's low performance uncovered

Stuff.co.nz
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) released its 2012 performance information this week which measures tertiary providers against four educational performance indicators (EPIs) including course completion rates; qualification completion rates; ... 

Otago University graduates to the top

The University of Otago has comprehensively topped other New Zealand universities in the latest league tables measuring student performance.The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) released its 2012 performance information tables... 

Waikato kids embrace early childhood education

Waikato Times
Overall, 95.8 per cent of Waikato children have participated in early childhood education(ECE) by the time they start school, just above the national average of 95.7 per cent. While participation remains lowest for Maori (92.1 per cent) and Pasifika ... 

Industry Training Continues to Perform Well

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“The different dynamics that operate between classroom-based learning and on the job training in an actual workplace make it difficult, if not nonsensical, to have the same performance criteria across all tertiary education institutions.” The ITF ... 

Environmentally friendly school gets special award

Stuff.co.nz
The competition underwent a major overhaul this year and drew sponsorship from businesses, including Fonterra, Dow Agrosciences, Port Taranaki, Methanex and the Taranaki Daily News, in the education section. TRC chairman David McLeod said the ..

Thursday, 25 July 2013

SIGNPOST: Workplace skills are learnt in classrooms

BDlive
According to educationist Jane Gilbert, chief researcher of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, the present education system is a product of the industrial age, which required a “production-line model of education”. That equates to ...

Sport igniting passion for life and learning

Otago Daily Times
A recent report from the NZCER (New Zealand Council of Education Research) stated that ''the students see these [leadership] capabilities and skills as very relevant for their life and future work with others. "All could describe how they had ...

Tertiary Performance Indicators released

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister of Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce has welcomed the release of the 2012 Education Performance Indicators, which show continued strong performance by tertiary providers for their students. “The changes we have made to the tertiary education sector to reward performance, instead of just getting “bums on seats”, are continuing to work,” Mr Joyce says. “More students are staying in study, achieving credits and qualifications, and progressing further.” ... 

Universities improve completion rates

3News NZ
Universities and polytechs are reporting improved qualification completion rates. TertiaryEducation Minister Steven Joyce says changes the Government made to reward performance instead of funding institutions on a "bums on seats" basis are working. 

UCOL student success on the up and up

The Tertiary Education Commission’s latest Tertiary Education Performance results show the number of students who successfully complete courses at UCOL is continuing to increase. 

Otago Ranks Top In All TEC Performance Indicators

The University of Otago is ranked top of all New Zealand universities in the latest annual Educational Performance Indicators (EPIs) released by the...

Targeted tertiary study funding finds favour

When it comes to fixing skills shortages in IT, engineering, technology and trades, 73.8 per cent of those who responded to the Herald 's CEO survey wanted to see more funding for tertiary education in subjects relevant to the skills... 

Principals are top targets of assault

School principals are six times more likely to face violence than the general population, with students and parents dishing it out equally, according to new research in Australia. 

Making maths fun

Techday NZ
“It brings together the learning needs of the kids with new technology,” says Littlewood. “I feel strongly that it's not trying to teach, but that it gives teachers an additional tool to use. It reinforces the learning that is occurring in the ... 

New Education Programme Designed to Transform Construction

The creation of buildings that are net zero (energy, water and waste), built from non-toxic, locally sourced materials and that are beautiful and inspiring is the goal of a new education programme for all construction professionals. 

Teachers trucking on

Stuff.co.nz
Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association has launched the Play Truck, a mobile early childhood education centre, in a bid to change the way people think and feel about pre-school. The vehicle parks in various spots around Manurewa and Takanini and ... 

Unitec's Department of Computing makes innovative alliance

Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland and Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) in Japan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will enhance co-operation between the two institutions by offering a dual doctoral programme.

Kohanga board pays back $800000

Radio New Zealand
The Kohanga Reo National Trust Board has moved quickly to pay back nearly $800,000 of funding it shouldn't have received. Its chief executive, Titoki Black, will not be returning to her senior role following an internal audit of the organisation in April.

Witt overspend put at $103,000

Witt has blown its budget by more than $100,000 in part as a result of high-profile managers leaving the polytechnic.

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Capital's schools unaffected by quake

NZ City
The Ministry of Education expects schools to re-open as scheduled following Sunday's large tremor, with most school buildings appearing to have escaped any major damage. Two Wellington secondary schools and one Marlborough school now have ... 

Teacher training in demand

A teacher training scheme fast-tracking university graduates into classrooms has more demand for participants than it can fill.

Monday & Tuesday, 22-23 July 2013

Minister to visit UK, Ireland and US Education counterparts 

Hekia Parata | Education Education Minister Hekia Parata will travel to the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States next week for bilateral meetings with her counterparts. “These meetings are an opportunity to raise further awareness of New Zealand’s education brand, and promote our education system. It will also be a chance to discuss topics of relevance to our education system such as equity in education, improving the quality of teaching, and effective civics education,” says Ms Parata. ...

Ministry of Education Seddon Earthquake update 

The Ministry of Education has today started assessing damage to schools and other education facilities following Sunday’s earthquake.

Social workers in an extra 385 schools

Paula Bennett | Social Development All low decile primary schools will have social workers to help protect and support children, by the end of the next school term. “I’m really pleased we’ve been able to expand the number of social workers, adding an extra 149 frontline staff around the country.” “Social Workers in Schools (SWiS) do an outstanding job of protecting children, they’re a vital frontline response to preventing and addressing abuse and neglect,” says Mrs Bennett. ...

Education a starting point

Stuff.co.nz
The policy change allowed partners of PhD students to apply for open work permits and their children to be enrolled at schools as domestic students. Government-funded New Zealand Education promotes the country overseas as a destination for study on ...

Students, council join forces on flat issue | Otago Daily Times Online ... 

The Otago University Students' Association is taking its fight for better-quality student flats to Parliament. ... The Otago University Students' Association is taking its fight for better-quality student flats to Parliament. President ...

Massey to offer free online courses

Stuff.co.nz
How does a complimentary university education sound? Massey University is boldly going where other New Zealand universities haven't yet dared - announcing plans to open up its academics' expertise to the cyber world - for free. Massey's vice-chancellor ...

Girls performing better than boys

Stuff.co.nz
Mr Leckie says that national standards have been an extremely frustrating exercise for teachers. "More than $40 million of public money is being wasted on producing national standards data. But teachers and schools already know which students are ...

Unruly kids 'dumped' on schools

Stuff.co.nz
Schools are being ordered by the Ministry of Education to take back children kicked out for bad behaviour, ranging from theft and vandalism to drug abuse and assaults on teachers and classmates. Family First's Bob McCoskrie said schools were being ...

Maori and male leavers failing

Stuff.co.nz
Data released by Education Minister Hekia Parata yesterday shows Manawatu-Whanganui secondary schools are lagging in all areas of NCEA attainment, measured against the national average - but showing improvement nonetheless. On the flipside ...

Graduates fear career in peril

Stuff.co.nz
Five Southland teaching jobs are listed on the Ministry of Education's Education Gazette website, where schools must post vacancies - two for experienced early childhood teachers, two for registered teachers for a head of department role and a ...

International Students Bring Long Term Benefits... | Stuff.co.nz 

Students from overseas are valued by New Zealand universities for the high fees they pay and the cultural diversity they bring to campus life. ... Pizza delivered student a big slice of success · Has Xero reached its peak?

Focus should be learning and teaching not testing and typing ... 

“National testing has proven a failure everywhere else around the world. This is yet another example of the National party importing failed ideological experiments, rather than focusing on what works here in New Zealand,” ...

Minister Holding Out On Data Purpose

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“The level of distrust between the sector and the Minister is at an all-time high after the debacles of class room size, Novopay, charter schools, Christchurch school closures and the continued fascination with the flawed National Standards,” says Ms ...

Bennett wants kindy teachers to dob in beneficiaries

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Bennett wants kindy teachers to dob in beneficiaries. The National Government is expecting early childhood education (ECE) centres to monitor the attendance of beneficiary children and to "dob in" parents whose kids don't always attend so their ...

Minister Holding Out On Data Purpose

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“The level of distrust between the sector and the Minister is at an all-time high after the debacles of class room size, Novopay, charter schools, Christchurch school closures and the continued fascination with the flawed National Standards,” says Ms ...

Australian figures on soaring student debt mirror New Zealand | TEU ... 

Figures released by Universities Australia this week show that student debt in Australia has soared by almost 30 per cent between 2006-2012, raising concerns among New Zealand staff and students about similar levels of ...

Friday, 19 July 2013

Minister releases regional information on education progress

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today released information which shows how children are getting on at different stages of the education system in 16 regions throughout New Zealand. The information shows what percentage of children are participating in early childhood education, are achieving at the National Standards or Ngā Whanaketanga Rumaki Māori, and achieving NCEA Level 2. ... 

Schools fail to meet national targets

Stuff.co.nz
Wellington and Hawke's Bay primary and secondary school pupils are lagging behind government targets, but they are not alone. Nationwide, none of the targets for national standards, NCEA for school leavers, or early childhood education participation is ... 

Southern students achieving more: Data

NZ City
The Ministry of Education released regional data for early childhood education participation, national standards achievement, and NCEA level two attainment for the first time on Thursday. It shows students in most parts of the South Island are ... 

Waikato students below average

Stuff.co.nz
National standards results, released yesterday, show the proportion of Waikato primary and intermediate students meeting their age appropriate standards in reading, writing and maths is below all other major districts: Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki ... 

Maori and Pasifika students continue to lag behind

Newstalk ZB
Figures out today show 60 percent of Maori students are at national standard level for writing, while the performance of Pasifika students is a below 57 percent. And the lagging trend is also reflected at higher education levels. Just over four percent ... 

Asian students streets ahead of schoolmates

Stuff.co.nz
Asian secondary school students in Canterbury are streaking ahead of their peers, while Maori and Pasifika students struggle to get minimum qualifications. Ministry of Educationachievement figures released yesterday show that while there has been a ... 

Schools fail to meet ambitious Government targets

National education data shows schools are not meeting ambitious targets set by the Government as part of its better public service targets and Maori and Pasifika students are still trailing in achievement.Only four of the 16 regions... 

Another pointless and costly National Standards exercise

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“More than $40 million of public money is being wasted on producing National Standardsdata. But teachers and schools already know which students are under-achieving. The big problem is a lack of funding to share effective teaching strategies and ...

Teacher tool optional after backlash

MSN NZ News
The tool is intended to help moderate national standards assessments, but Ms Parata says the unions' concerns are unfounded. "First of all, see and use the tool with your teachers, understand that it is just a tool - it does not displace any judgments ... 

Chief Ombudsman calls for school closure submissions

Chief Ombudsman Dame Beverley Wakem is calling for submissions for an investigation into the way the Education Ministry conducts consultation on school closures and mergers.Dame Beverley said she had already received submissions... 

Hui examines how to improve Maori students' results

Radio New Zealand
Hui examines how to improve Maori students' results. Updated 9 minutes ago. A Maori education hui has been examining how tangata whenua and the Government can improve Maori education results. The Nga Kaikokiri Matauranga conference was held in ... 

Education Ministry Forcing Schools to Take Unruly Students

Family First NZ says that the Paeroa Central Primary School experience of being pressured to keep a violent pupil in the school despite the danger that the pupil would place other children in is just the tip of the iceberg as schools are pressured by the ... 

Regional education information good step forward

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
... strategies in schools and in the wider education system in order to increase students' achievement. “The information shows considerable differences between the 16 regions, especially with regard to success rates for boys and Maori and Pacific students. 

Australian figures on soaring student debt mirror NZ

Figures released by Universities Australia this week show that student debt in Australia has soared by almost 30 per cent between 2006-2012, raising concerns among New Zealand staff and students about similar levels of financial distress among tertiary students ... 

cuts hitting polytech - Labour

Stuff.co.nz
Aoraki is forecasting a loss of $1.6m and a predicted drop of 276 students for this academic year. This is on the back of a drop of 144 fulltime students last year, though austerity measures enabled the polytech to achieve a breakeven financial result ...

Thursday, 18 July 2013

Education Ministry to develop maths strategy

The Ministry of Education is developing a maths strategy to raise poor performance by primary school children. 

Take back bad pupils, schools told

More than 100 schools that kicked out students for bad behaviour, including arson, physical assaults and drug use, have been made to re-enrol the same students again.From 2003 to 2012 there were 163 incidences where a school was... 

Treasury misses the point of tertiary education

Treasury's bizarre working paper Private Returns to Tertiary Education , which it released yesterday, seems to argue that New Zealand should move from emulating equitable and economically successful countries like Sweden, Norway or Japan, to copy Portugal, ... 

Get Back to Basics Minister

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
New Zealand First says the latest Year 8 National Standards data on math and writing achievements reinforces that the close to 20 million dollars spent to date has been an exercise in data gathering rather than improving learning outcomes for our kids. 

Primary schools need counsellors, says head

Counsellors are needed in primary schools to help teachers deal with children being prescribed anti-depressants and threatening self-harm, experts say. 

Media kicked out of education hui

Radio New Zealand
The media were kicked out of a hui about Maori education in Auckland on Wednesday morning at the Education Minister's request. More than 60 tribal education providers were expected at the conference, held by iwi education advocates, Nga Kaikokiri ... 

The Power of Technology gives Kiwi Youth a Voice

More than 60 young New Zealanders from over 20 schools are set to uncover their talents, increase their technology skills and learn from some of New Zealand’s best technology brains, at this week’s High Tech Youth Meet Up. 

Kardashians are bad role models, says principal

Raising girls to be more like the Hunger Games heroine and less like one of the Kardashians would help teens survive the "growing culture of violence, excessive drinking and early sexualisation", a principal says. 

KidsCan scheme a boost for school

Auckland stuff.co.nz
Principal Stephanie Thompson says they are deciding on the best way to use the first shipment of food. It will likely be taken on school trips and some supplies will be kept inclassrooms. "If someone hasn't got quite enough you can give them a little ...

Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Remediation progress positive - more work required

Steven Joyce | Education 

Positive progress has been made in resolving outstanding issues with Novopay under the Remediation Plan - but the system is not out of the woods yet, Minister Responsible for Novopay Steven Joyce says. The Remediation Plan was established in February this year with Cabinet agreeing to put aside up to $5 million to help deliver stable pay periods, clear the backlog of outstanding pay issues through the Backlog Clearance Unit (BCU), and resolve system bugs and defects. ... 

Govt releases reports on Pay Periods 6, 7 & 8

Steven Joyce | Education 

Minister Responsible for Novopay Steven Joyce today released the reports on complaints and notifications in regards to Pay Periods 6, 7 and 8 of the schools’ payroll. Pay Period 6, which was paid on the morning of 12 June, paid 89,061 people a total of $173.96 million. The report shows that complaints and notifications were received regarding 0.30 per cent of staff across the country, 21 staff were notified as not paid, 109 were overpaid, and 140 underpaid. Affected staff were from 197 schools or 8.0 per cent of schools in the payroll system. ... 

$10 million investment for new school facilities

Nikki Kaye | Education

 Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced a $10 million investment in new buildings for 26 schools around New Zealand. The investment is part of a programme designed to ensure schools have facilities to match their growth. “This year 26 schools, from small rural to large city schools, will receive additional funding to help them extend libraries, increase administrative facilities, and build new multipurpose spaces," Ms Kaye says. ... 

Novopay: Thousands of problems still outstanding

The Government is extending its Novopay remediation programme by two months, while 4400 school staff are still battling to receive correct holiday pay and sick pay entitlements.Minister Responsible for Novopay Steven Joyce said... 

NZEI wants more resources for fixing Novopay

The teachers union, the New Zealand Educational Institute, says the Government is still not putting enough resources into fixing the flawed Novopay payroll system. 

Expanding schools receive badly needed funds boost

Stuff.co.nz
Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced the funding yesterday and said it would be split between 26 schools, including seven in the Lower North Island, to build extra non-classroom space. At Te Horo School on the Kapiti Coast the roll has ... 

Documents show Ministry concern about National Standards

NZEI Te Riu Roa says it is not surprised at revelations that the Ministry of Education has ongoing concerns about the effect of National Standards on New Zealand children’s education. 

Principals collect $1.3m in top-ups

Principals are getting their salaries topped up by as much as $29,000 for extra work including running school radio stations, house sports events, and a car parking project.Extra money can be paid to principals on top of their salaries... 

Iwi set plan of action for Maori education

Iwi representatives will meet this week to hear and discuss their priorities and plan of action to address serious educational issues facing Maori children and adults. 

NZ desperate for tech graduates - report

A report into the ICT sector released today highlights New Zealand's need for more graduates in the tech industry. 

Kindy kids to have ID numbers

Identification numbers attached to children as young as three could be used to track and punish their parents.The ID system will be rolled out next year, paving the way for information to possibly be passed from kindergartens to... 

UC researchers unravel better workplace performance

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
``While the participants' conscious level of task motivation statistically predicted the overall level of performance, self-reported motivation did not statistically predict their rate oflearning or how they improved over time. ``Excitingly, an ... 

Schools await ruling on validity of board elections

Stuff.co.nz
Last week the Ministry of Education deemed the initial elections invalid after they received a single complaint about an advertisement for the May elections. The advertisement failed to state how many positions on each board were vacant. A re-election ... 

A Taste of EIT

Would-be tertiary students have responded in record numbers to the opportunity for a free taste of life at EIT. For Year 11-13 school students and teenagers who have already left school, this week’s taste @ EIT is an opportunity to find out more ... 

Waikato Welcomes New Dean of Arts And Social Sciences

Waikato University has welcomed Professor Robert Hannah as the new Dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, having officially taken up the appointment on July 1. 

Sacked principal battling to get his old job back

Former Bay of Islands College principal Elgin Edwards is fighting to get his job back, admitting he made mistakes running the school before being sacked last year.But he maintains he is the best man to take the college and its community...

Monday & Tuesday, 15-16 July 2013

Education Minister responds to ministry conclusions

Education Minister, Hekia Parata, responds to the Education Ministry's conclusions about NCEA pass rates.

Education Ministry worried too many children failing standards

The Ministry of Education is warning the Government that national standards pass rates for intermediate school pupils are so low it might miss its goal for raising NCEA pass rates by 2017. 

Big expansion for AUT Manukau

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment 

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today welcomed the Tertiary Education Commission’s decision to support Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT) Manukau Campus expansion. The expansion, which will see the number of Equivalent Full Time Students (EFTS) at AUT increase from the current 940 EFTS to 4,100 EFTS by 2020, will play a key role in providing greater tertiary education options in the south Auckland region. ... 

AUT expansion aims to lift Maori, Pacific enrolments

TVNZ
The Government has announced a major expansion of AUT University's South Auckland campus, which it hopes will get more Maori and Pacific Island students into tertiaryeducation. AUT and the Government are aiming to see an extra 3000 full time students ...

PaCT no longer mandatory

Techday NZ
PaCT is a digital tool that is expected to strengthen teacher confidence and capability in making judgments on a student against the National Standards. ... Last month, NZEI Te Riu Roa, the NZ Principals' Federation, the NZ Association of Intermediate ...

PaCT under fire again

Techday NZ
Philip Harding, president of theNew ZealandPrincipals' Federation says while the Minister of Education has made it clear that national tests are not conducive to children's learning, by using PaCT to support national standards, it will do the same harm ...

Treasury sends contradictory messages on tertiary education

Treasury’s latest four-yearly outlook on ways to constrain government spending without compromising prospects for better living standards in New Zealand over the next four decades – released this week – has left room to explore more positive ... 

Novapay contract costs Talent2 $20m

Stuff.co.nz
The Australian company that built the troubled Novopay payroll system says it will have to swallow a $20 million loss over the life of its contract with the Ministry of Education. Talent2 New Zealand booked the entire hit in its accounts for the year ... 

Early childhood education in our rural regions

Living in rural areas can sometimes be isolating, particularly when access to services city people take for granted are many kilometres away. While education and community experiences are not always readily available, the Hunterville Mobile Kindergarten ... 

Unis unite on early education

Stuff.co.nz
Academics, deans and pro-vice chancellors have sent a collective submission voicing their concerns to Education Minister Hekia Parata, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce and Secretary of Education Peter Hughes. The leading campaigner, Otago ... 

Secondary Schools: Pathways for future education, training and employment

This report follows on from ERO’s 2012 report on careers education, Careers Information, Advice, Guidance and Education (CIAGE) in Secondary Schools. This second report investigates how well 74 secondary schools have prepared their students for future opportunities in education, training and employment. 

$200 million wasted on inadequate professional development

The government is spending $200 million a year on woefully inadequate teacher professional learning and development (PLD) that does not help lift student achievement. 

Pupils among highest in NCEA level 2 stakes | Otago Daily Times ...

The final analysis of the Ministry of Education's 2012 NCEA data shows the percentage of Otagopupils leaving school with an NCEA level 2 qualification remains among the highest in the country - and the rates are continuing to increase. ... ''These results are a great reflection on the work our teachers do withstudents and their families and show the measures our Government is taking to raise achievement are working,'' Ms Parata said. ''We have seen some ... 

Andreas Schleicher - student assessment

Acting director for the OECD's education directorate, looks at raw data which demonstrates New Zealand's relative success in the global standings of student achievment.

Waikato classrooms embrace the digital age

School desks, pens and pencils could soon be an oddity in Waikato classrooms as schools increasingly embrace digital learning environments. 

Multi lingual ‘ready for school’ programme about to begin

A brand new languages, music and a technology curriculum will be launched for North Shore Preschoolers as part of the Kids Planet Childcare ‘ready for school programme.’ 

Teachers Council rejects complaint against principal

The Teachers Council has dismissed a complaint against a Hutt Valley principal accused of misleading parents about school fees. 

Witt board member has education history

Stuff.co.nz
"Alongside my teaching responsibilities I have been actively involved in research, in both ecological statistics and in modelling Maori language usage in New Zealand. "I am passionate about education and I am excited by the opportunity to provide ... 

Chch school takes ministry to court

A Christchurch school fighting closure will get its day in court. 

Improved Career Development for Youth

Waiariki Institute of Technology and Careers New Zealand have signalled they are fully committed to working together to improve career development for young people which will flow into industry. 

School anger at board re-elections

Stuff.co.nz
New Plymouth schools are fuming at the possibility of having to re-elect board of trustees members after the Ministry of Education deemed the initial elections invalid. The drama unfolded from a lone complaint regarding a newspaper advertisement for ... 

University farm in new territory

Stuff.co.nz
The focus day for the Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) strayed into new territory as researchers explored the feasibility of lucerne grazing for dairy farming. Lucerne research is being carried out by the Lincoln University Research Dairy Farm ... 

Pupils cloaked in Maori culture

Otago Daily Times
Kingsview School pupils spent last week creating kakahu (Maori cloaks) as a part of their education during Maori Language Week. Kakahu are traditionally made with woven flax, animal skin and feathers. However, the pupils created theirs using dyed paper.

Leaky schools total now 9

Stuff.co.nz
The Ministry of Education is set to contract water-tightening work on both Halcombe and Manchester Street schools, which have sprung serious leaks. Halcombe School's hall needs to be re-clad, and repairs to its roof and frame are required, at an ... 

Principal drives kids to achieve

Nicola Ngarewa is all about the solution rather than the problem.The 39-year-old is the principal at Tamatea College, Hawkes Bay, where she has been for a little more than two years.She is among six New Zealanders named as Blake... 

School students assault staff

Children at 10 Western Bay primary schools have been stood down or suspended for physical assaults on school staff.Figures released to the Bay of Plenty Times under the Official Information Act reveal children at Arataki School,...