Friday, 1 November 2013

Education Council Transition Board appointed

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced appointments to a Board that will oversee the transition from the existing New Zealand Teachers Council to the proposed Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. “A smooth transition from the current New Zealand Teachers Council to the new body, and its amplified role, will be crucial for embedding the new Council. I have appointed a Board that I believe will achieve this,” Ms Parata says. The core tasks of the Transition Board are to: ...

 

New professional body for teaching and educational leadership

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced proposals for the new body for educational professionals in the early learning and school sectors. “This has been a three year process of development, drawing on international experience, with widespread consultation beginning in 2010 with the Education Workforce Advisory Group Report, and culminating in the 2013 Ministerial Advisory Group report,” Ms Parata says. ... 

Young beneficiaries in education and training

Paula Bennett | Housing

Changes to the benefit system for young people are seeing more in education, training and attending vital parenting and budgeting courses. “Welfare reform started with young people, for good reason – a recent report found young people who go on benefit, then spend an average 19 years on benefit,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett. “We now require all beneficiary 16 and 17 year olds and teen parents to be in education or training so they have a better chance at getting a decent job.” ... 

Consultation to resume with Phillipstown School

Hekia Parata | EducationEducation Minister Hekia Parata says the Government will not appeal the High Court’s ruling on the judicial review sought by Phillipstown School and will instead resume consultation on its proposed merger with Woolston School as set out in the judgement. It has been proposed the two schools merge as part of the Government’s Education Renewal Plans in greater Christchurch. ... 

Govt to provide $260m to University of Canterbury rebuild

Steven Joyce | Canterbury 

Earthquake RecoveryThe Government has agreed to provide up to $260 million to the University of Canterbury to support its rebuild programme following the destructive Canterbury earthquakes. “The Government's contribution will fund a new science centre and expanded and upgraded engineering facilities. These will provide modern teaching and research facilities and cater for more students," Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Steven Joyce says. ... 

Parata: New Zealand Teachers Council to be replaced

The New Zealand Teachers Council will be replaced with a new body, Education Minister Hekia Parata has announced.The new agency will be called the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.Ms Parata said it will broaden its scope... 

Minister dumps Teachers Council

Stuff.co.nz
The Teachers Council has been dumped after the conviction of a sex offender working at a Northland school prompted a review. Minister of Education Hekia Parata today announced a new body, the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, is proposed ... 

Education consultation group masks real Government agenda

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Treasury has proposed that the Cross Sector Forum on Raising Student Achievement, which was set up following last year's class size debacle to allow the government and the education sector to work collaboratively, be used to discuss more palatable ... 

Progress with Taskforce Recommendations

The ideas generated by the community working parties as part of the joint Wanganui District Council and UCOL Taskforce are being actioned. 

New education body will need to protect youngest citizens

Safe and high quality learning that protects and nurtures the development of children and young people needs to remain the hallmark of the new professional body for teachers. 

Promise of action on Kohanga spending

waateanews.com
Mr Waho says relations between the Kohanga Reo board and its staff are at a low ebb as a result of the training bungle that led to the departure of former chief executive Titoki Black, but it is important the organisation focuses on how best to ...

Education Ministry responds on special exam help

The Ministry of Education's special education manager, Brian Coffey, responds to claims that learning disabled students are missing out on exam help. 

Literacy and numeracy improve in tech trial

Techday NZ
A decile three school in West Auckland has had the opportunity to put the new LeapPad Ultra, an educational touchscreen device, to the test in the classroom. Colwill Primary School was given 40 of the devices to trial and found some surprising results, ... 

Kiwi online university launches worldwide

Techday NZ
Users can pay reduced fees if they want to get academic credit, and only pay forassessment if and when they're ready. “All the course material is taught online, based on open educational resources and openly accessible materials on the internet. This ...

$1.1b for 10-year Canterbury Uni rebuild

Auckland stuff.co.nz
... engineering and science research facilities, an immediate $10m for the detailed planning for these projects and a five-year commitment to the "Student AchievementComponent", funded by the Tertiary Education Commission to provide "whole of ...

University of Canterbury welcomes Government investment

University of Canterbury Chancellor Dr John Wood and Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr responded with appreciation to the Government’s announcement of a significant $260 million investment in the University of Canterbury, earmarked for world class facilities ... 

Educational entrepreneurs locked out of the NZ market

Ms Del Costello from Tall Poppies Group Ltd has been involved with the teaching of oral language in a variety of contexts over the past 7 years. Most recently in the development and implementation of the TalKit Oral Language Programme for Primary ...

Tuesday-Thursday, 29-31 November 2013

New appointments to Ministry Leadership Team

Secretary for Education Peter Hughes has announced appointments to three new roles in the Ministry's Leadership Team. 

Threat over school data

Principals are threatening to take legal action against the Ministry of Education if controversial national standards data are used in league tables identifying individual children.The national standards results for all state primary... 

The multi-billion dollar cost of illiteracy

Principals say students more motivated to do well in NCEA exams

Secondary school principals says their students are more motivated than ever before for the annual NCEA and Scholarship exams. 

Hide changes, Parata told

Controversial changes to education should be kept as low-profile as possible, official advice to the Government says.Documents obtained by the Herald cite Education Minister Hekia Parata's "ambitious agenda for change in the schooling...

Parents told to support kids during exams

NZ City
While New Zealand school students are busy cramming for next month's NCEA exams, their parents are being warned to take the time to support them. NCEA examinations kick off on November 8 and ToughLove say it's important for parents to stay connected ...

Warwick Elley: Worrying consequences for National Standards

Education Minister Hekia Parata's own sympathetic advisory group has called for an investigation into the potential harm that her controversial "one-size-fits-all" National Standards policy could be having on young low achievers.When... 

A handy guide to surviving exams

'Read the question" has been joined by "turn the laptop off well before bed" as indispensable advice to survive the stresses of exam season.Switching the Wi-fi off and visualising the perfect exam performance are other tips that... 

NZ education gets tick from Thais

Manawatu Standard
Leaders from five Thai schools got the inside scoop on four New Zealand schools this week, touring grounds and taking a look in classrooms. As part of an Education New Zealand initiative, schools from around Asia are being matched with Kiwi ...

Less truancy but more exclusions

Stuff.co.nz
The first in a series of annual reports released by Wellbeing and Vitality in Education(Wave) shows a range of education statistics comparing South Canterbury to the rest of New Zealand. Truancy rates over all school-age groups in South Canterbury are ...

Overpaid teachers won't be pressured

MSN NZ News
The Ministry of Education is chasing thousands of school staff for $10.4 million in overpayments resulting from Novopay blunders. The error-ridden school payroll system made 15,149 overpayments totalling $13.6 million, with only $3.1m recovered so far.

Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal Rule Changes

The Teachers Council proposes to amend its rules to allow its Disciplinary Tribunal proceedings to be open to the public. But careful safeguards need to be put into place. 

Staff and students petition to keep voice on councils | TEU - Tertiary ...

Nearly 1300 staff, students and community supporters have signed a petition opposing tertiary education minister Steven Joyce's plans to remove the democratically elected student, staff and community representatives from ... 

Tablets boost school kids' comprehension rates

A west Auckland school has introduced a new children's touchscreen tablet into its classrooms with remarkable results. 

Labour zeroing in on school balls and sex-ed

Gay NZ
One proposal is to enact a national sex and sexuality education programme. It would include a minimum standard for all state-funded schools, and encourage parent-engagement. Labour will also consider reducing discrimination in schools by banning ... 

Schools' decision time nears

Stuff.co.nz
It initially moved to temporary classrooms at Catholic Cathedral College, before setting up its own special temporary site in Champion St in Edgeware, where it would remain until the new combined school opened in 2016. The schools announced yesterday ... 

Schools cross the digital divide

Every New Zealand classroom will soon have access to digital devices - opening up huge learning opportunities, but also a risk of another "digital divide".Government investment in ultrafast broadband and technology, combined with... 

Students in worsening battle for beds

Stuff.co.nz
Universities are considering new campus accommodation as Canterbury students face increasing battles to secure flats. Lincoln and Canterbury universities are addressing the effect of the increasingly tight housing market in Christchurch on its students ... 

Auckland schools get tech boost

Techday NZ
Two of New Zealand's most tech-savvy schools, both in Auckland, have been awardedclassroom sets of Microsoft Surface RTs as recognition of their leadership in digital learning. Botany Downs Secondary College and Ferguson Intermediate School in Otara ... 

Insight for 27 October 2013 - Matching Education and Jobs

William Ray looks at tertiary students' job prospects and what can be done to match output of graduates with needs of industry. 

Arrangement of cooperation in the field of education signed

The French and New Zealand Ministers of Education, Vincent Peillon and Hekia Parata, met in Paris on September 27th and signed an arrangement of cooperation between their ministries.

Parents Urged to Connect with Teens as Exams Approach

TOUGHLOVE has called on parents to stay connected with their teenage children's needs, as they prepare for their NCEA and other exams. 

Milk is back in Auckland's primary schools.

Auckland stuff.co.nz
For the the first time since the 1960s youngsters will be provided with the equivalent of a glass of milk a day thanks to the Fonterra Milk For Schools programme. The nationwide initiative had its Auckland region launch at Three Kings School this week.

Auckland celebrates $17.8 million success in Marsden Fund

The University of Auckland is celebrating the success of thirty five of its researchers and research groups, who have won $17.8 million in the prestigious Marsden Fund round, amounting to thirty per cent of the total awarded this year. 

Learning Set to Accelerate in Two Auckland Schools

Two of New Zealand’s most tech-savvy schools, both in Auckland, have been awarded classroom sets of Microsoft Surface RTs in recognition of their leadership in digital learning. 

AUSA pleased with recent decision of ERA

The Auckland University Students’ Association is pleased with the decision of the Employment Relations Authority regarding its actions in ending the employment of its former General Manager, Tom O’Connor.

Open Educational Resources university to be launched

You can study world-class courses for free and count them towards real qualifications. This is the future of tertiary learning and New Zealand is fast becoming a pioneer of this innovative model with the launch of the Open Educational Resource university ...

Foundation spends $500000 on scholarships

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The Foundation provides a set number of scholarships for Maori and Pacific students in the Valley, as well as contributing to the Primary Nurse Education Fund. Foundation chair, Charles Peterson, says with the help of the hospital, the Trust has also ...

Inspirational programmes changing the educational landscape in three countries

euronews
Challenging the perceptions of Maori children who have a history of failing at school is part of a scheme in New Zealand. It is a project which has been rolled out in 50 North Island secondary schools. The system believes that the relationships in the ...

St Paul’s School: Final round of consultation

Following the earthquakes and the red-zoning of St Paul’s School, Dallington, the Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop Barry Jones, undertook two rounds of community consultation on a proposal to combine St Paul’s School and Our Lady of Fatima School to form ... 

New Qualification Supports Sustainable Food Production

Many more Food Forests are likely to spring up around New Zealand as a new tertiary qualification shows how to produce food in ways which mimic forest eco-systems. Food Forests are a time honoured method of growing food in intentionally designed, highly ... 

A New Committee Announced for EXMSS

The Massey University Extramural Students’ Society Inc (EXMSS) announces a new Executive committee as the result of the recent Special General Meeting (SGM), which was held Saturday 19 October 2013. 

New Writer at the International Institute of Modern Letters

New Zealand poet, playwright and performer Hinemoana Baker has been appointed the Victoria University of Wellington/Creative New Zealand Writer in Residence for 2014. 

OUSA Names Students’ Top Otago University Lecturers

The Otago University Students’ Association and the University of Otago are proud to announce the University of Otago Lecturer of the Year as voted by the students of Otago University. At a ceremony held by OUSA today the awards were presented to ... 

Wintec revamp wins top award

Stuff.co.nz
They see it as a hub, a base for the wider parts of their lives, not just their education - and it means we've achieved what we've wanted to do in integrating ourselves into their lives". Siteworx focus has largely shifted for the time being to the ...

Friday, 25 October 2013

Exciting future for School Journal and other resources

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata says she is very pleased that a New Zealand-owned provider has been confirmed by the Ministry of Education to take on the publication of the iconic School Journal and the Ready to Read series. The new provider, Lift Education, will take over this work from Learning Media Limited, supported in the digital space by CORE Education and Chrometoaster – two other New Zealand providers. 

Christchurch schools to get wireless capability

Nikki Kaye | EducationAssociate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced 57 Christchurch schools are set to get their wireless network upgraded as part of the national Schools Network Upgrade Project (SNUP). “From next year, these schools will be able to make full use of ultra-fast broadband with entire campus coverage through the upgrade of their wireless network,” Ms Kaye says. “These upgrades will provide tailored, appropriate solutions to ensure the best long-term value for each school. ... 

Kiwi publisher to take over School Journal

Wellington company Lift Education has been confirmed as the new publisher of the School Journal series. 

Lift Education taking over School Journal, Huia taking over Maori publications

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“CORE Education has a very strong understanding of the work needed, has the capacity to carry it forward and the commitment to both English and Māori medium. It has a clearly defined quality assurance framework and is already thinking how they can ... 

New School Journal provider to mentor new Kiwi authors

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Lift Education (Lift), a division of South Pacific Press Limited, has been named as the new provider of publishing services for the Ministry of Education's instructional series, which includes the School Journal, Ready to Read and Connected. Neale ... 

Funding for winning teaching plan cut

Funding has been slashed for an award-winning programme closing the gap between Maori and Pakeha students' achievement, but the Ministry of Education says its replacement will be superior.

Government wants NovoPay overpayments back

Stuff.co.nz
While the backlog of outstanding overpayments had been calculated, clearing the backlog of leave, which consisted of about 5000 leave balances, also remained a priority. TheEducation Ministry and Talent2 had put in significant extra resources to ...

Govt eyes Novopay school overpayments

The Government is shifting its focus in the Novopay payroll debacle to recovering more than $10 million in overpayments to about 12,500 school staff.

Novopay bugs continue despite focus shift

Novopay is still a mess despite the all the effort and resources that have been thrown at the flawed payroll system. 

Organisations can benefit from student skills

Wellington employers have the chance to give their operation an edge by using the critical thinking and creative problem solving skills of Bachelor of Arts (BA) students from Victoria University of Wellington. 

Politicians, staff, and students united against fee increases

New Zealand Doctor Online
Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA) and the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) are calling on this government, and successive governments, to seriously increase tertiary education funding. In the short-term, they are calling on the University ... 

Politicians, staff, and students united against fee increases

New Zealand Doctor Online
Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA) and the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) are calling on this government, and successive governments, to seriously increase tertiary education funding. In the short-term, they are calling on the University ...

Education and Capitalism: The Massey-McDonald's partnership

Scoop.co.nz
The head of Massey's College of Business, Professor Ted Zorn, told the New Zealand Herald “We have gone in to McDonald's and looked at what they are doing… ... Secondary education throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth century consisted of ...

Milk is back in Auckland's primary schools.

Auckland stuff.co.nz
For the the first time since the 1960s youngsters will be provided with the equivalent of a glass of milk a day thanks to the Fonterra Milk For Schools programme. The nationwide initiative had its Auckland region launch at Three Kings School this week.

Wednesday & Thursday, 23-24 October

Pasifika students Power Up for success

Hekia Parata | Education
Over 1600 Pasifika students, parents and family members have signed up to a new programme to boost the number of Pasifika students achieving NCEA. Education and Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, who visited a session in Porirua last night, says Pasifika Power Up for NCEA, is connecting Pacific parents, families and communities with their children’s learning. ... 

Focus shifts to recovering overpayments

Steven Joyce | Education

The entire backlog of around 15,000 outstanding overpayments since Novopay went live last year has been calculated and the focus is now on recovering that money. “Completing the calculation and processing of overpayments is a significant step in the remediation work underway to clear the backlog of issues with Novopay,” Minister Responsible for Novopay Steven Joyce says. ... 

Govt releases reports on Pay Periods 13, 14 & 15

Steven Joyce | Education

Minister Responsible for Novopay Steven Joyce today released the reports on complaints and notifications in regards to Pay Periods 13, 14 and 15 of the schools’ payroll. Pay Period 13, which was paid on the morning of 18 September, paid 90,390 people a total of $177.35 million. ... 

Ministry gets back on track

Stuff.co.nz
A blunter assessment would say that the relationship has been horrendous. And while Hughes said he was talking not just about Christchurch but across the board, it is in Christchurch that things have sunk to their lowest ebb. For not only has ...

'Pet project' scholarship is under fire

Stuff.co.nz
Millions of taxpayer dollars have been poured into a private school scholarship programme, but a quarter of its students have failed to make the grade of NCEA level 2. More than $11 million had been spent providing Aspire scholarship students with $16 ...

Parents Warned National Standards Misleading

Parents Warned National Standards Misleading ‘A new set of league tables ranking primary schools according to their national standards results will soon be made public,’ said Philip Harding, President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation. ‘Let’s ...

Independent review of Kohanga Reo board begins

Radio New Zealand
Education Minister Hekia Parata has confirmed on Monday that an independent review of public funding to Te Kohanga Reo National Trust Board is underway. Hekia Parata. NATIONAL PARTY. The review has been set up following allegations that the trust's ...

Minister tells kohanga they are not target in review

Radio New Zealand
Education Minister Hekia Parata says individual kohanga reo are not targets in a Government review of spending by the publicly-funded Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board. An independent review of the trust board has been set up, following the alleged ...

Minister Fails Duty of Oversight for Kohanga Reo

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“The Minister admitted in the House today that the first he heard of serious allegations of financial mismanagement associated with the National Te Kohanga Reo Trust was the day that Maori TV aired their story on Monday the 14th October. Later today he ...

Law with Mai Chen

Mai Chen discusses Christchurch school closures and mergers. 

Further evidence Christchurch education plan driven by ideology

Census figures showing that more than half the communities in Christchurch facing school closures have grown in population is further evidence that the government’s plans are based on ideology, not what’s best for children and communities.

Commonwealth Education Trust to invest in New Zealand

The Commonwealth Education Trust is establishing a new corporate presence in New Zealand and has announced today the appointment of Dr Sue Watson as Chief Executive Officer. Dr Watson takes up her role in February 2014. 

Gardens great for growing minds

Getting year three and four students into a school vegetable garden is an amazing idea that should be rolled out to more schools.

Centre to close

Stuff.co.nz
The centre made the announcement after the Tertiary Education Commission changed funding for the 2014 year. HTC Trust chairperson Peter Keller said the centre could not continue to be viable under the new funding system. Tertiary Education, Skills and ...

Vanguard Military School Appoints Principal

One of the first five Partnership Schools | Kura Hourua, Vanguard Military School, is today proud to announce the appointment of Rockley Montgomery as its Principal.

Have your say on ICT qualifications

Techday NZ
Calls for review of national standards. Educate Recommendations from an advisory group point to a lack of confidence in ... Don't forget – Check Point's NZ Security Tour this week. Sponsored IT Brief Threats across the technology industry are evolving ...

Centre gives hands-on learning

Auckland stuff.co.nz
Papakura High School offers its students a number of Vocational Pathway streams in addition to its academic streams at NCEA Level 2. Some of the vocational streams include hospitality, tourism, health and engineering. Thirteen students are now on ...

Bay school to teach the world

New Zealand Herald
A local principal will be representing his school on the world stage next week after being selected from hundreds of educators across the country to attend the World Innovation Summit for Education in Qatar. William Colenso College principal Daniel ...

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Reboot signs up 8000 new apprentices

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
The Government’s apprenticeship re-boot has already signed up 8000 new apprentices since March says Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister, Steven Joyce. The Apprenticeship Reboot was announced in January by Prime Minister John Key, as part of an overhaul of the apprenticeship scheme to get more apprentices qualified and more in priority trades. From 1 January 2014 all apprenticeships will be combined into a single nationwide scheme called New Zealand Apprenticeships which will be open to all ages. ... 

Review into Kōhanga Reo Spending Underway

Hekia Parata | Education 

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Hon Dr Pita Sharples confirmed today that the Independent Review of Public Funding to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board is underway. “A lot of work has been completed to establish this independent review, with Ernst & Young commissioned to carry it out. I am pleased that this has moved forward with urgency,” says Ms Parata. ... 

Kohanga Reo funding probe starts

An inquiry into the public funding of Kohanga Reo is underway, following allegations one of its managers misused credit cards to purchase personal items, including a wedding dress and made large cash withdrawals. 

Parakai School closes last local Maori classroom

Radio New Zealand
A Ngati Whatua o Kaipara leader is challenging the Minister of Education to act after the closure of the last Maori classroom in its rohe. Parakai School in south Kaipara last month closed its Maori medium unit, Te Whare Kakano, blaming low student ... 

Te Manu Korihi News for 22 October 2013

A Ngati Whatua o Kaipara leader is challenging the Minister of Education to act after the closure of the last Maori classroom in its rohe; In a statement, the Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, says the ministry worked with the schools Principal and Board last year to explore the sustainability of the unit; An Otago University researcher has found that early Maori most likely suffered from gout, which shows the disease is genetic, not just caused by modern lifestyle; A new tourism venture in Auckland will bring Maori voyaging waka to the Waitemata Harbour. 

Rangitoto sets example for Ka Hikitia

waateanews.com
The Maori student mentor at the country's largest secondary school says makingMaori students feel included and welcome as Maori is important for educationalsuccess. Speaking at the Auckland relaunch of the Ka Hikitia programme to raiseMaori student ... 

University raises tuition fees ahead of inflation yet again

Students today have expressed their frustration at the decision from the University of Auckland Council to raise tuition fees by 4%, the maximum allowed under current legislation. For many students this is an increase of several hundred dollars per ... 

Babies' counting reveals maths skill

Stuff.co.nz
Children who performed in the top 50 per cent of the math achievement test had a significantly higher intuitive number sense in infancy than those who performed in the bottom 50 per cent, the authors found. This relationship held true even when the ... 

Dave Grimmond wants schools to focus on improving education outcomes ...

Interest.co.nz
In this regard a couple of recent papers investigating the performance of charter schoolsin the US demonstrated that high performance tended to be related to pedagogical practices rather than inputs or their charter school status. For example (Angrist ... 

Scholarships for Maori and Pasifika High Achievers

TangataWhenua.com: Maori News & Views
In 2013 TeachNZ removed most scholarships for secondary subject teachers due to the low number of vacancies in areas other than te reo Maori. For 2014 we have reduced the number of early childhood education scholarships as supply and demand for ... 

School goes ultrafast

Stuff.co.nz
Schools going on the managed network this year will get internet speeds about 10 times faster than they have now, the Ministry of Education says. Principal Bruce Barnes says encouraging high use of the new technology will ensure pupils are 21st century ... 

University of Auckland to offer free online courses

Techday NZ
The University of Auckland is the latest New Zealand institute to announce a move into the world of massive open online courses (MOOCs). It will partner with FutureLearn, a UK-based consortium founded by the Open University to develop and deliver ... 

Lincoln University joins open education network

Techday NZ
Calls for review of national standards · Educate Recommendations from an advisory group point to a lack of confidence in national standards and call for review processes to be implemented claims a spokesperson for the New Zealand Principals' Federation.

Monday, 21 October 2013

Aranui Community Leadership Group appointed

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata says nine people have been appointed to the Aranui Community Leadership Group (ACLG), established to lead community consultation on the year 1-13 Aranui campus announced last month. “Members were selected following registrations of interest received from the Aranui community. The members of the group were chosen because of their experience and commitment to the community,” says Ms Parata. ...

New data confirms the value of tertiary qualifications

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Higher qualifications mean higher employability and higher wages for young people says Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce. A new report by the Ministry of Education released today Looking at the employment outcomes of tertiary education, refreshes and updates information released earlier in the year to students and parents about the value of tertiary education qualifications. The report traces young people’s earnings and destinations for the first six years after graduation. ... 

Research reduces earthquake strengthening costs for schools

Nikki Kaye | Education

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says ground-breaking research released today by the Ministry of Education has found timber-framed classrooms are extremely resilient to earthquakes. “This is good news for the education budget because we will not have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on earthquake strengthening these buildings,” Ms Kaye says. “The research has confirmed these buildings are safe and resilient in quakes. This means that we can focus on modernising buildings to provide better learning environments. ...

Calls for review of national standards

Techday NZ
Recommendations from the National Standards Aggregate Results Advisory Group to the Minister of Education point to a lack of confidence in the standards and call for review processes to be implemented claims a spokesperson for the New Zealand ...

City exodus means boom for country schools

Stuff.co.nz
They received approval from the Education Ministry to build a new three-classroom block but with a confined site Mr Grey said expansion would take a lot of "strategic planning". "We've got quite a restrictive site with a retirement village, a gully and ... 

Maori education strategy relaunched

waateanews.com
A programme to improve the way Maori perform in the education sector is being relaunched, after a damning report on how its initial introduction was botched. Associate Education Minister Pita Sharples today unveiled the refreshed Ka Hikitia programme to ...

Getting the best for all Māori students

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Associate Education Minister Hon Dr Pita Sharples encouraged whanau, teachers, hapu and iwi to keep up their focus on supporting Māori student success, as the updated Māori education strategy, Ka Hikitia – Accelerating Success 2013-2017 and the new ...

New partnership aims to boost international student numbers

Global education provider Navitas Limited will next week open its doors as an affiliated college on the University of Canterbury’s (UC) campus to recruit and prepare international students for degree study at UC.

Graduates' pay dreams 'unrealistic'

New graduates with dreams of earning big bucks when they finally enter the workforce need to be realistic about their starting wage and to be clever about what topics they choose to study, recruitment experts say.A new report from... 

Online 'addicts' too tired for schoolwork

Stuff.co.nz
He says NCEA is getting harder and he needs to focus on studying for his exams. School headmaster Rob Sturch says looming assessments make it "crucial" that the boys focus. "There's too much time spent on idle chat and social networking instead of ...

School antics spark Parakai petition

waateanews.com
Parents at Parakai School are circulating a petition aimed at keeping open the last Maorimedium education class in South Kaipara. Carole Povey, whose five year old son was in Te Whare Kakano Maori Medium unit, says the school board seemed ...

Open Letter to the University of Auckland Council

I write to you as the President of the largest students’ association in New Zealand, the Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA). I represent not just their interests, but the interests of every student pursuing and hoping to pursue tertiary ... 

New Te Wānanga o Aotearoa CEO Jim Mather welcomed

New Te Wānanga o Aotearoa chief executive Jim Mather will focus on getting fully up to speed with the business and the key priorities for the nationwide tertiary education provider in his first weeks in the job.

Students put off GP career by low pay

Stuff.co.nz
Fewer medical students are choosing to become GPs because they do not get paid enough and the work hours are enormous, an Otago University School of Medicine professor says. Jim Reid said the nationwide struggle to access GPs could be partly ...

Students Rally to F**k the Fees!

At 3pm on Monday the 21 October, University of Auckland students will rally to oppose a 4% tuition fee rise. 

Making homework fun

Parents simply want to encourage and spur on their offspring to ensure they don’t fall behind their classmates, while their children simply want to do anything but schoolwork the moment the bell goes for the end of the day. 

Lincoln University joins open education partnership

Lincoln University has today (21 October) announced its membership of the Open Education Resource university network (OERu) as a gold-level anchor partner.

Ceremony for Maori remains at UK uni

NZ City
"We have no records about how these items came to be in storage at the University, but when they were uncovered, we knew we had to give them back," said Dr June Jones, Religious and Cultural lead for the College of Medical and Dental Sciences.

Friday, 18 October 2013

Education Ministry admits failings in 'tough' year

Radio New Zealand
In the report, Secretary for Education Peter Hughes says the year was challenging and demanding. He says he deeply regrets the stress caused by problems with Novopay, and says more could have been done to engage with Christchurch people over ...

National Standards Under Fire From Advisory Group

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
'Recommendations from the 'National Standards Aggregate Results Advisory Group' to the Minster are pointing to a lack of confidence in the standards themselves, and call for reviewing processes to be implemented, claims a spokesperson for the New ...

Kohanga Reo trust reps meet with minister

Newstalk ZB
Kohanga Reo Trust representatives are saying little ahead of a snap meeting with the Minister of Education at Parliament tonight. Hekia Parata's after answers after misuse of credit card allegations were made against Lynda Tawhiwhirangi, the manager of ...

NZEI supports Kohanga Reo teachers and whanau

Te Kohanga Reo has made enormous progress in nurturing Te Reo Maori since its inception 32 years ago and NZEI Te Riu Roa is hopeful that current allegations will not derail the excellent work being done at all levels of the movement.

New Shirley, Avonside schools years away

Stuff.co.nz
Education Minister Hekia Parata yesterday announced that the single-sex Avonside Girls' and Shirley Boys' high schools will relocate and share facilities in the east. No other Christchurch secondary schools will close or merge. The decision forms part ...

Novopay's $200000 overpayment blunder

Stuff.co.nz
Information released by the Ministry of Education under the Official Information Act shows a total of $228,489.63 was overpaid to Southland school employees between August 2012, when the Novopay system was introduced, and September this year.

School antics spark Parakai petition

waateanews.com
Parents at Parakai School are circulating a petition aimed at keeping open the last Maorimedium education class in South Kaipara. Carole Povey, whose five year old son was in Te Whare Kakano Maori Medium unit, says the school board seemed ...

Cost of education racing ahead of inflation 

TEU - Tertiary Education ...

Two of the big costs driving up inflation are ones the government can control; health and education. TEU national president Lesley Francey says. 

Structural change needed to let academics debate publicly 

TEU ...
Tertiary Update Vol 16 No 35. Academics have a duty and privilege to engage in public debate but they cannot fulfill that role until there are fundamental changes to the structures of New Zealand's universities, according to ... 

New Ako Aotearoa contract gives certainty 

TEU - Tertiary Education ...
Ako Aotearoa, New Zealand's national centre for tertiary teaching excellence, has signed a new five-year funding agreement with the Tertiary. 

Microsoft provides extra tech to over one million Kiwi students

Techday NZ
The tech giant says schools that combine Office 365 ProPlus with the entitlements it receives via Microsoft's School Agreement with the Ministry of Education will give students access to the same set of productivity tools and services used by leading ...

Early childhood education hui to showcase quality learning

Ensuring continued high quality early childhood education in the face of government cuts to the sector will be the focus of a two-day hui in Auckland.

Brain development in the first three years of life

Nathan Mikaere Wallis is part of the Brain Wave Trust, and X Factor Education, Christchurch. He has been a lecturer at the Christchurch College of Education, lecturing in human development, brain development, language and communication and risk and resilience. Nathan has a background of working with children in counselling settings relating to domestic violence, sexual abuse and childhood trauma. 

Consultations Unpacked: Engaging Parents in the Education of their ...

Council of Social Services Dunedin & Dunedin Community Law Centre invite you to discuss the Parliamentary Inquiry into Engaging Parents in the Education of their Children and assist with formulating possible submissions. ... and internationally, that support parents and communities to encourage their children's learning;; and to identify ways to leverage the strength of communities to lift the educational achievement of children and young people in their community.

Move to boost youth show involvement

Port Lincoln Times
This award provides a great opportunity to give young people a forum to express their views through education and experience and develop closer links with the primary industries in South Australia. Courtney Ramsey representing the Eyre Peninsula and ...

Select Committee interested in amnesty period for borrowers

The latest proposed round of changes to Student Loan legislation has prompted a discussion in the Finance & Expenditure Select Committee about a different approach to drawing money back to New Zealand from Overseas Based Borrowers – including the idea of ... 

Make Chinese languages compulsory in schools

Making Mandarin a compulsory subject in primary schools will spur New Zealand’s economic growth, and will open up opportunities for deeper understanding of the Chinese culture.

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Youth mentoring scheme given funding

Nikki Kaye | Youth Affairs

Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye today announced $60,000 funding to deliver mentoring opportunities for up to 50 for young people with disabilities. “I am allocating a total of $60,000 over the next three years to the YES Disability Resource Centre,” Ms Kaye says. “This is to assist the Carabiner youth mentoring programme which matches young people with disabilities, aged 17 to 24, with a volunteer mentor. ... 

New advisory group to support prisoner education

Anne Tolley | Corrections

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley says an expert advisory group has been appointed to support a new education strategy for prisoners, as the Government continues its focus on reducing reoffending through rehabilitation. The group will provide advice on the implementation of the strategy under which, for the first time, every offender will have an education assessment when they enter prison. This will then be used to develop an individual learning and training plan for each offender. ...

PM calls for Kohanga Reo spending inquiry

TVNZ
Lynda Tawhiwhirangi, the general manager of a subsidiary of the Kohanga Reo National Trust, has been accused of using work credit cards for private purchases. The Board is investigating and said it would take appropriate action once it concludes.

Inquiry into Kohanga Reo

The Dominion Post
The Government has ordered an independent investigation into allegations of misspending by the general manager of the commercial arm of Kohanga Reo. After a meeting at Parliament this evening, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Maori Affairs Minister ... 

Two big schools to share city site - Stuff.co.nz

Stuff.co.nz
Last updated 05:00 17/10/2013. Hekia Parata. JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/Fairfax NZ. UNLAWFUL: Education Minister Hekia Parata's decision to merge the schools failed to meet the requirements of the Education Act in two respects, a High Court judge said. 

Network boon for e-learning

Stuff.co.nz
Since then, after a number of upgrades costing tens of thousands of dollars, the school's wi-fi system is smooth, its internet connection is of good quality and the digital innovations can be spotted in almost every classroom. St Peter's deputy ...

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Advisory group says national standards need a champion

The Government is being told it needs a hero to rescue its national standards policy from doubting teachers and parents.

Kōhanga Reo Statement

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Minister Dr Hon Pita Sharples have met with representatives of the Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board tonight to discuss the allegations made against them. “While we were encouraged by the actions that the Trust has taken so far, which they have advised us of tonight, we have informed the Trust that the Ministry of Education will be commissioning an independent, specialist audit firm to review the controls the Trust has in place to assure itself that public funding is being used appropriately. ...

Christchurch secondary school announcement

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today that, following an extensive consultation process, all Christchurch secondary schools will remain open because the schools are well located and provide good access for students. However, two schools that had significant land damage, Avonside Girls High School and Shirley Boys High School, will be relocated to a new shared site in eastern Christchurch. Education officials are working to identify a site. ... 

Govt orders urgent review of Kohanga National Trust

An urgent audit of the public funding received by the Kohanga Reo National Trust Board has been ordered by government ministers, after a late night meeting at the Beehive. 

Kohanga Reo summoned to Beehive

The Kohanga Reo National Trust has been summoned to the Beehive tonight to meet Education Minister Hekia Parata and Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples to discuss allegations of the misuse of funding.Ms Parata confirmed the meeting... 

PM promises action if kohanga claim proven

New Zealand Herald
Labour's Maori Education spokeswoman Nanaia Mahuta said Ms Parata had no other option than to call for a "please explain" from the Te Kohanga Reo National Trust. "Given the serious nature of the allegations around the use of Kohanga funds Ms Parata ...

Parata calls meeting over accusations
Inquiry into Kohanga Reo
Govt orders credit card spending inquiry

Kohanga Reo board 'not happy' with spending

3News NZ
"Government puts a huge amount of money into funding early childhood educationthrough Kohanga Reo – about $79 million a year – and what is happening is that the ministers responsible for that are calling in the trust… to ask questions," he said on ...

Fears raised about Kohanga Reo's future

3News NZ
"I've never seen a wider array of Maori organisations in a state of dysfunctionalism. So that's why I think something is seriously awry and I put it at the feet of Dr [Pita] Sharples. "He came as the guardian of the language and an expert in Maori ...
Kohanga Reo spending alarm
Kohanga Reo Trust's credit card use questioned
Govt leaves kohanga investigation to board

Report shows further evidence of National Standards failure

Suggested changes to the reporting of National Standards by a Government advisory group show that the Government has been reduced to “spin” in order to fix the unfixable. 

Christchurch high schools to be relocated

Eastern Christchurch's Avonside Girls High and Shirley Boys High are to be relocated to a new shared site following a review of the quake-shattered city's secondary schools.Education Minister Hekia Parata said the decision was made... 

Two schools to share site in city's east

Stuff.co.nz
Education Minister Hekia Parata has today announced all secondary schools will stay open because they were well-located and provided good access for students. Parata said Avonside and Shirley, which both had significant land damage, would operate on ...

Lack of answers from Parata shows contempt for schools

Hekia Parata's refusal to answer basic questions about the closure and merger of schools in Christchurch shows her utter contempt for the communities she is tearing apart, Labour's Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

The Buck stops with the Minister

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“On top of the class size debacle, and her total mismanagement of the Christchurch school closures, this new information shows her education portfolio is in tatters. “Even the Minister's own National Standards advisory group is calling for someone else ...

"Riding the global education revolution from NZ"

Interest.co.nz
So we make sure folders are created easily, that information can be shared seamlessly and that teachers know what's going on in their classrooms. “Our goal therefore is to have a significant impact in terms of the operational efficiency for a teacher ...

Head for no-name school

Stuff.co.nz
The school may not have a name or location, but the merger between Discovery 1 and Unlimited has a new principal. Steven Mustor, principal at Southland's Waiau Area School, will take charge at the new Christchurch school ahead of its January opening.

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Journal and some jobs set to get lifeline

Auckland stuff.co.nz
A Wellington company is understood to have won the contract to publish the School Journal series, as part of the breakup of loss-making Learning Media. Last month, the Government confirmed it would "wind down" Learning Media, a state-owned enterprise, ...

Schools' ultrafast broadband rollout begins

Stuff.co.nz
Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye said the first 21 schools would be on the network by the end of the year. She said the first three – West Auckland's Massey Primary School, South Canterbury's Waimate High School and Wanaka's Mt Aspiring College ...

Doubts on school system exposed

Scrapping yearly reporting of controversial national standards results should be investigated, the Government's own advisory group says.The group also says some criticism of the system may be justified, including the possibility...

Digital technology could transform music education

Techday NZ
However, the research found that despite the potential digital technology may have to transform classroom activities, music education, in most cases, remains fundamentally conservative and heavily informed by traditional Western art music practices ...

 

Lorde a prime example of following her own singing heart

New Zealand’s teenage singing sensation Lorde is a prime example of following her own potential in her way rather than sticking to the education curriculum, a University of Canterbury (UC) researcher says.

Learning to be part of a selective online crowd

Stuff.co.nz
Storypark is essentially an online scrapbook, which allows both early childhoodeducation teachers and parents to regularly interact over a child's learning. For instance, a teacher would set up a Storypark account for a child, invite the parents to ...

Seminar will discuss new pathways in teacher education

Professor Pam Grossman of Stanford University’s School of Education believes that teacher education should be organised around the core practices of teaching. Professor Grossman will present a seminar on the changing ways teachers are taught to teach.

New contract great news for Ako Aotearoa

A formal signing ceremony today involving a further five-year funding agreement confirms strong support from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) for Ako Aotearoa – The National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence.

Ease exam stress, hug a puppy

Stuff.co.nz
"That's how intense the interest is. That's how much students want it. So, it's amazing." Otago SPCA education manager Marjorie Orr says her organisation is keen to build a relationship with students. It also wants to educate students on the problem of ..

Victoria appoints new Head of School of Government

Victoria University of Wellington is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Brad Jackson as Head of the School of Government.