Friday, 1 August 2014

Report on Education Regulations released

Hekia Parata | Education
A report looking at how improved legislation and regulation could free-up schools to focus more on raising student achievement has been welcomed by Education Minister Hekia Parata. The Taskforce on Regulations Affecting School Performance, which was established late last year, considered the current regulatory system schools operate under to see if the Government can ease their operating environment and provide more fit for purpose regulation for 21st century requirements. ...

Minister welcomes parental engagement report

Hekia Parata | Education
A report recommending ways to encourage more parents to get involved in their children’s education has been welcomed by Education Minister Hekia Parata. The report of the Inquiry into Engaging Parents in the Education of their Children puts forward a range of recommendations that could help boost student achievement through better engagement with parents, families, whānau and communities. Ms Parata says the report from Parliament’s Education and Science Select Committee underlines the importance of parental involvement in student success. ...

Educated questions over changes

Stuff.co.nz
Another concern is the disruption to learning when expert teachers leave their classroom for two days per week to teach at another school. Other roles include "change principals", who will work with low-performing schools and lead teachers, who will be ...

Educational training boost under Labour

3News NZ
Mr Robertson is promising to "restore the capability and confidence" in institutes of technology and polytechs. He says $40 million will be spent over four years establishing 10 centres at existing polytechs. Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment ...

Labour will establish Centres of Vocational Excellence

School puts microchip idea on hold

NZ City
Education Minister Hekia Parata said it was a matter for the board to deal with, but she was not in favour. "Boards are there to represent their parent community. This is creating a debate in that school community and it's something that they will ...
Microchip school bracelets spark objections
Opposition to school's bracelet scheme
School suspends microchip plan

Microchipped school bracelets 'plain odd' - mother

A mother was horrified to hear her daughters' wrists had been measured for microchipped wrist bands at their primary school.

Principals cautiously optimistic about Novopay

Teachers say they're celebrating the government's decision to take control of Novopay, the controversial educational payroll system that has been beset with problems.

Editorial: Government slow to act on Novopay

Why, Labour education spokesman Chris Hipkins asked, had it taken the Government so long to take action over the troubled Novopay school payroll service? It was a reasonable question on several counts. As long as 18 months ago, a...

Peter Lyons: Attitudes to teaching out of touch

Kevin Fallon gets dismissed as a football coach at Mt Albert Grammar and it makes the national news. If a top physics or maths teacher was to leave a school due to frustration, it would be of little news value. Our attitudes to education...

Labour announces $40m package for tertiary centres

Labour has announced a $40 million package to set up ten new 'centres of vocational excellence' at regional institutes of technology, saying National had put too much focus on university qualifications at the expense of critical trade...

Debating with the youth wings

Putting together the representatives of five political youth wings was always going to make for a lively discussion, and that’s exactly what happened.

Along with Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association, The Wireless hosted a debate between representatives of the youth wings of ACT, NZ First, National, the Greens and Labour. We asked them to go head to head on education, the economy, the environment, housing and inequality.

Teachers wary over review

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The last thing teachers and parents want is for the goals of our education system to be narrowed down to 'improved outcomes' in the three R's measured by National Standards. New Zealand has a rich, full education curriculum. Let's not dumb it down and ...

Investment in international education provides boost

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Other successful initiatives include a collaboration of four high schools from Auckland and Tauranga to attract more students from Mexico and a project by Hamilton-based Online Education Ltd to translate its 'Code Avengers' online computer programming ...

Stress relief for uni students

Stuff.co.nz
Massey University students have been treated to free massages, cupcakes and condoms in an effort to provide the strung-out among them some stress relief. Held by Palmerston North's Massey UniversityStudents' Association (MUSA), the inaugural Hauora ...

Schools would see positive impact from minimum wage increase

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
A large number of early childhood education support workers and school support staff, particularly teacher aides, are currently earning barely more than the minimum wage. Combined with uncertain job security from term to term, many also find themselves ...

Hui fono focuses on culture and creativity

Maori and Pasifika students will tackle the issue of how to integrate culture into their work at an upcoming hui fono in Northland. The students from the National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries at the University of Auckland head North on Friday ...

Innovative courseware development on agenda

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“The app comprises audio, video, graphics, and interactive learning activities that will help adult learners overcome literacy and numeracy issues so that they can fully engage with the study materials.” The app has been developed to be delivered on ...

Close Whangaruru Charter School Now

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
When will it come to a similar conclusion about the education system – and shut down charter schools. It can start with Whangaruru. “New Zealand First calls on the Minister to do this immediately and place the students with registered teaching staff so ...

Principal seeks new challenges

Auckland stuff.co.nz
"Look at the uproar National Standards caused a few years ago and now it is working fine. You just get on with it," he said. Leverton was looking forward to seeking out the difference between Geraldine and Ashburton but believed there were some ...

Thursday, 31 July 2014

Education associations pleased with Novopay announcements

Guyon Espiner talks to the president of the Principals' Federation, Philip Harding, and the president of the Post Primary Teachers' Association, Angela Roberts. 

Minister on why Novopay system being bought under govt. control 

Forty-five million dollars and two years later, the Government has finally admitted defeat over Novopay.

Novopay move slated as diversion 

Australian company Talent2 has been dumped from its own ill-starred Novopay teachers' payroll system in what Labour says is a bid by the Government to draw a line under the debacle before the election. Bedevilled by a flood of errors...

Principals Warn Novopay Woes Not Over Yet 

Principals are encouraged by the announcement today that Talent2 has withdrawn from delivering the sector’s controversial Novopay payroll, but warns there is a long way to go before principals will have any confidence in the system.

Govt launches more opportunities to engage 'curious minds'

Techday NZ
A Nation of Curious Minds outlines four areas for action. Firstly, there is the creation of opportunities to engage with scientists and industry both inside and outside the classroom. Attracting students into study science and technology is also a ...

Schools offered trans inclusive ideas

Gay NZ
“Other findings showed that almost one in five transgender students had experienced bullying at school on a weekly basis – this was nearly five times higher than the proportion of students who were non-transgender,” says Dr Terryann Clark, the ...
Better care for transgender youth

Mailbox zone scam is costly for decile 10 school

A decile 10 Auckland school considered criminal charges after it uncovered a scam it says enabled out-of-zone families to fraudulently enrol children.The owner of a home near the Gardens School rented their mailbox to an out-of-zone...

School plans microchip bracelets

A North Canterbury school's plan to fit students with microchip bracelets to track their behaviour has prompted concern among parents.

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Government-owned company to take over school payroll

Steven Joyce | Education
New Zealand's school payroll service will come under Government management in October of this year. After lengthy negotiations, the Ministry of Education and the existing school payroll provider, Talent2, have settled both on the amounts payable by Talent2 towards the costs of remediating the Novopay service and a new operating model for the school payroll system. The new model involves a new government-owned company taking over the operation of the payroll service, and Talent2 licensing the core Alesco software to that company. ...

Govt set to take over Novopay payroll system 

The Government will take over the troubled Novopay school payroll system in October, Steven Joyce confirmed today.

Government Novopay buy-out too late and schools still paying 

NZEI Te Riu Roa says that while the Government buy-out of Novopay from Talent2 is a welcome decision, it should have been made at least a year ago.

Auckland schools tackle zone cheats

Students are being kicked out of some of Auckland's most sought-after schools after officials ruled they were not genuinely living within zone. New figures from the Ministry of Education reveal which schools have had their decisions...

Zone proposal 'reeks of snobbery'

Former Selwyn College students Carmela Hughes and Ardit Hoxha say the school once taught them about acceptance. 

NEW CROWD: Government tipped to announce a major shake-up in IT education.

Stuff.co.nz
A report released today by the Education and the Business, Innovation and Employment ministries said there had been a gradual decline over years 11–13 in the proportion of students enrolled in science-related subjects and that students' performance in ...

Bid to keep Maori language alive

New Zealand Herald
Initiatives to bolster te reo included Te Ataarangi (a language learning system), kohanga reo (Maori language pre-schools), kura kaupapa Maori (Maori language schools) and Maori broadcasting. The Maori Language Act was passed in 1987, acknowledging ...

Student loan defaulters still taking off

Student loan defaulters living abroad have so far eluded "border arrest", despite Inland Revenue's tougher stance on non-compliance.

Discipline numbers for pupils improve

Stuff.co.nz
The rate at which pupils are being sent out of school for bad behaviour continues to decline, although levels for Maori and Pacific Island students remain above those for other groups. Figures from the Ministry of Education show age-standardised rates ...

Hungry students get helping hand

SundayNews.co.nz
"They cannot meet their full potential in the classroom if they are hungry." It was difficult to get students to come to breakfast, let alone put their hand up for lunch, Heath said. Some boys were too ashamed. "It's a bit of a challenge. We've got ...

BOP report highlights key tertiary education priorities

Increasing Māori participation in tertiary education is crucial to the wellbeing and economic growth in the Bay of Plenty, according to a report ahead of a collective action plan to deliver industry-focused education and research in the region.

Property scholarships open to Kiwi students

With university entrance on the minds of many high school students at the moment, leading New Zealand property trust Keystone New Zealand Property Education Trust has opened its doors for suitable candidates for its 2015 property scholarships, ...

Tuesday, 29 July 2014

Stand-downs, suspensions & exclusions at 14-year low

Hekia Parata | Education
Student stand-downs, suspensions and exclusions have reached 14-year lows, says Education Minister Hekia Parata. Ms Parata says Ministry of Education figures from 2000-2013 show a peak in the mid-2000s, but these numbers have dropped significantly. “We’re seeing far fewer kids being removed from school. That is great news because it means they’re staying in the classroom and continuing to learn. ...

Kiwi curiosity at heart of science engagement

Steven Joyce | Education
Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata today launched the Government’s action plan to encourage engagement with science and technology across all sectors of New Zealand. A Nation of Curious Minds: He Whenua Hirihi I te Mahara – is the blueprint for the Science in Society Project and has been jointly developed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Ministry of Education with close involvement from the office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor. ...

$15.6m redevelopment of Tarawera High School begins

Nikki Kaye | Education
Today is significant for the Kawerau community with a ceremony to mark the start of construction of new facilities at Tarawera High School, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says. “The $15.6 million redevelopment of the school reflects the importance the Government places on raising student achievement in Kawerau and on providing a fresh start for the school and local community. ...

Major shake-up for IT education

Stuff.co.nz
The Government is tipped to announce a major shake-up in education today with the status of information technology within the school curriculum likely to be substantially elevated. Paul Matthews, chief executive of the Institute for Information ...

Kids consider technology 'a bum subject'

Stuff.co.nz
A report released today by the Education and the Business, Innovation and Employment ministries said there had been a gradual decline over years 11–13 in the proportion of students enrolled in science-related subjects and that students' performance in ...

IITP calls for new Digital Learning Area in school

The Institute of IT Professionals (IITP) welcomes the Government's announcement today of a new science and technology strategic plan, in particular the commitment to review the positioning and content of Digital Technologies within the New Zealand Curriculum.

Secular Education Network escalates campaign 

David Hines is the spokesperson for the Secular Education Network. Phil Harding is the President of the New Zealand Principals Federation.

More Maori teachers wanted in kindies

The Southland Times
The lack of Maori teachers in Southland early childhood education centres has been highlighted as kindergartens and childcare centres practise te reo after this month's Maori Language Week. Figures from the Early Childhood Education services annual ...

Four schools for $200m by 2018

Auckland stuff.co.nz
The Education Ministry is down to two private contenders in the race to build four schools for $200 million before 2018. The tender process for building Aranui Community School and Rolleston Secondary School in Canterbury, Queenstown's Wakatipu High ...
Shortlist announced for major schools building project

Decile 1 school scammers abandon appeal

A former principal and her husband who scammed $30,000 from a decile one school have abandoned their appeal after a judge told them they may be jailed.Colleen Margaret Gray, 66, and Bruce Kenneth Gray, 65, siphoned the money from...

$15.6m redevelopment of Tarawera High School begins

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Today is significant for the Kawerau community with a ceremony to mark the start of construction of new facilities at Tarawera High School, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says. “The $15.6 million redevelopment of the school reflects the ...

Lack of demand delays new primary school

Stuff.co.nz
The long-awaited development of a new primary school and early childhood centre in Waikanae - originally planned to open last year - has been delayed for about five years because of falling school roll trends. The Government announced in 2010 that it ...

Kiwi Can approach enhances school culture

Integrity is a big word for a primary school pupil, but it's one Waikato youngsters are examining in a values programme.

Teacher kicked, swore at students

A teacher who physically abused his students and told them they were ugly and dumb has been censured and had his teacher's registration cancelled by the New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal.

Monday, 28 July 2014

The Global Search for Education: From New Zealand

Huffington Post
A statutory manager may be sent to the failing school, but according to Dr. Rosemary Hipkins, Chief Researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER), "the brief will be about getting the administration back on track (in terms of ...

Unlocking the Idea of 'Capabilities' in Science

NZ Science Teacher
According to our curriculum, all students should become responsible, thoughtful citizens in society. The ‘science capabilities’ play a vital role in teaching and learning, writes NZCER Chief Researcher Rose Hipkins.

Pay Period performance steady

Steven Joyce | Education
Latest figures show the school payroll system maintained a steady performance for each of the last four pay periods. Minister Responsible for Novopay Steven Joyce today released the reports on complaints and notifications received in regards to Pay Periods 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the schools’ payroll.

New Zealand's first Chief Education Scientific Advisor sees room for improvement

Helping close achievement gaps in our classrooms will be a priority for a leading academic appointed to a major new science education role.Professor Stuart McNaughton, New Zealand's first Chief Education Scientific Advisor, told...

Championing a cultural treasure: Sounds good to me

Manawatu Standard
They both went to kohanga reo and kura kaupapa total immersion Maori schools in Wellington and then Auckland. A number of my Pakeha friends and family asked me what on earth I was doing. Why bother, they said. They'll never use te reo overseas, it's a ...

John Roughan: Principles lost in a grammar zone

What goes through the minds of educational professionals when they see the lengths that property owners will go to remain in a prestigious school zone?Amusement may have been their initial reaction to reading this week that an overlap...

Matt Heath: Hard lessons learned from schoolyard fights

My son turned 5 and started school last week. It was an emotional time for me. He is so small and his uniform so large. His shorts hang below his knees and his backpack is as big as he is. Very cute.The drop-off was bittersweet....

Insight for 27 July 2014 - NZ's Most Vulnerable Kids 

Anusha Bradley speaks to six families involved in a long term study as the latest report explores what makes a child vulnerable.

Teacher's depravity lost in system

An Auckland school failed to act on concerns raised by two teenage students who felt unsafe around their teacher - six years before he was arrested for sexually grooming one of them and other underage girls.The lack of records on...

Students helping others 

Otago Daily Times Online News : Otago ... 

The large turnout of students at the volunteer fair at the University of Otago last week might surprise some because the image of Otago students is not always edifying. ... It should also be again acknowledged that a significant slice of any trouble these days is caused by non-student interlopers into the North End. Many organisations in Dunedin rely on students as participants and volunteers and have done so for years. This extends through sports clubs, music and ...

TEU develops strategy to support Māori students 

TEU's national council wants more action to address the needs of Māori students following information earlier this year that Māori take significantly longer to pay back student loans. TEU's Te Tumu Awhina, Margaret Taurere ...

Striving to fill gaps for our youth

Wanganui Chronicle
She said part of the issue was youth - particularly Maori and Pasifika - who struggled to fit into the school system and ended up in alternative education instead. "It is the state school system we still need to train in how to teach and work with ...

Unitec competition gets women into coding

A competition for girls at Unitec in Auckland aims to start getting more Kiwi women involved.

Students of dentistry aggrieved 

Dental students are angry at being left in the dark over the University of Otago's plans to move its medical library to make way for animal testing facilities.

23-25 August 2014

Strong gains in student achievement

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata says the latest achievement information shows children throughout the country are doing better across the education system. Ms Parata says the Public Achievement Information released today is evidence that moves by the Government, reflected in the work of those in the education system, is making a real difference in educational achievement. ...

Trainee teachers to benefit from education portal

Nikki Kaye | Education

Teacher-training institutions can now access a digital resource that enables schools to share learning resources and best practices, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says. Pond, the online learning hub built by Crown-owned company Network for Learning, aims to become a central environment in digital discovery and participation for schools. ...

Māori Language Bill Passes First Reading

Pita Sharples | Māori Affairs 

Maori Affairs Minister, Hon Dr Pita Sharples, says he is pleased that the Māori Language Bill passed its first reading this afternoon with the support of the majority of the House. Dr Sharples said “As kaitiaki of te reo Māori, iwi should have more say and leadership over the Crown’s te reo strategy. This Bill, and the establishment of Te Mātāwai, will enable that to happen.” ...

National education standards need time - Parata

Stuff.co.nz
The release of the latest achievement information for children from early childhood through to school leavers in 2013 shows three-quarters of the 400,000 children tested throughout the country were at or above national standards. Yesterday, Education ...

Otago children top 'tables'

Stuff.co.nz
Otago children lead the country in reading, maths, and writing achievement, and all but West Coast pupils are above the national average. Education Minister Hekia Parata released the public achievement information yesterday, showing that about ...

PQ8. Education, National Standards—Student Achievement Data

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Yes, I am satisfied that the reported data provides an accurate reflection of where teachers assess their students to be against the national standards at this time. This is because I back the professional judgements of teachers. National standards is ...

Far North lags in national standards

Stuff.co.nz
Education Minister Hekia Parata says Public Achievement Information released today shows that three quarters of the 400,000 children tested throughout the country are at or above national standards. Of the 2007 primary and intermediate schools ...

Northland principals say standards data dubious

Northland principals say national standards data showing falling achievement levels are unreliable - but may reflect deepening poverty in the region.

What are National Standards really being used for?

The National Government needs to come clean about its plans to link controversial National Standards data, such as those released today, to future decisions about school funding and teacher pay.

National standards: Fall in reading achievements in many regions

The number of primary and intermediate school children achieving or bettering the national standard in reading has fallen or flat-lined in half of the country's sixteen regions.Education Minister Hekia Parata has this afternoon...

Ticks, crosses for school pass rates

The number of young school children achieving or bettering the national standard in reading and writing has fallen in many regions.Education Minister Hekia Parata has released the latest achievement information, which she says shows...

School told to manipulate national standards data

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“Parents will question whether the data in any way reflects student achievement when the principal told to manipulate his school's data has stated: 'I feel sorry for all parents and communities who look at 2013 National Standards data and make ...

Pasifika teachers "burning out" from extra workload

The union for Pasifika secondary teachers says they're burning out from increased pressure to lift NCEA achievement for Pasifika students.

Fewer teachers, higher decile

Stuff.co.nz
In statistics released from think-tank The New Zealand Initiative yesterday, compiled from the Ministry of Education, decile 10 schools had an average of 24.6 students per teacher to 20.6 for decile 1 schools. The student-teacher ratio is an important ...

Poll backs plan for better teachers

New Zealanders would rather money was spent on improving teaching standards than on reducing class sizes, a Herald-DigiPoll survey reveals. Education has become a political battleground before September's election, with both major...

Pita Sharples: A te reo strategy for, by and of the people

New Zealand Herald
It brought together iwi leaders and Maori experts where the idea of language nests or kohanga reo was first conceived. Each of us took it back to our regions and what happened was truly powerful. Our elders, our iwi leaders, the guardians of our ...

Few non-Maori pick language for study at secondary school

New Zealand Herald
It says its policy will encourage the use and learning of Maori in schools, but that it won't be made compulsory. Under the Education Act all schools must provide Maori language programmes to students if parents request it. Te reo being taught in ...
Maori language: use it or lose it
Parata argues for reo choice

Learning Maori a life changer

Stuff.co.nz
The immersion preschools established in 1982, which continue to this day, are called te kohanga reo (the language nest). Ropata says the centres sprang up quickly around the country, spreading like wildfire at the time. That was when, as a teenager ...

Peter Calder: Half an hour a week of te reo is a gift no one should refuse

Imagine your local school was offering a programme that increased children's understanding of language and their ability to use it effectively.It would also help with cognitive flexibility, with the ability to see an overall pattern...

Free te reo Maori lessons popular

Regan Stokes is a young English teacher at Burnside High School, but also has another ambition as a teacher - to give free community night classes in te reo Maori.

Schools choose 'opt in' for religious instruction

Stuff.co.nz
Secular Education Network (SEN) spokesman David Hines, who with Jacob is leading the Human Rights Commission complaint, says it is becoming more common for schools to adopt an opt-in process ''in response to criticism''. Among those is Christchurch ...

'Kitchen work' for no-bible student

Stuff.co.nz
A Christchurch mother is leading the fight against a law that permits teaching religion in state schools amid claims her son "was made to wash dishes" after she chose to opt him out of the lessons. Tanya Jacob says she pulled her son out of Harewood ...

Effort to eliminate religious education misdirected

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
New Zealand Christian Network spokesman Glyn Carpenter says efforts by Secular Education Network to close down Bible in Schools are misdirected. "These people want to stop children being educated about the stories of Jesus and his messages of love ...

After-school jobs harmless - study

School students can forget trying to wriggle out of a part-time job - new research says it isn't all that bad.Children who juggle school and work are not shown to suffer any long-term disadvantage, according to the University of...

Parenting:The dangers of doing your children's homework

Rochelle Gribble is director and editor of parenting information and advice website 'Kiwi Families'.

College backs down on zoning plan after hostile feedback

Hostile feedback from residents in some of the country's most expensive real estate has caused an emerging school to back away from including them in its new zone.A rapidly rising roll has seen the Ministry of Education to direct...

Ministry steps in to heated zone stoush

The Ministry of Education has stepped in to quell the school enrolment zone battle.

Kindies ahead of Greens on free places for 2-Y-Os

The Greens have unveiled a policy to extend 20 hours a week of free early childhood education to 2-year-olds, but some centres are already offering parents the option in a bid to attract more children and keep rolls high.At present,...

Greens: Put solar panels in schools

Stuff.co.nz
"In the same way that households are paying too much for power,schools' electricity bills are too high," Norman said. The policy was launched at Laingholm Primary School in West Auckland today. Principal Martyn Weatherill said in a statement provided ...
Greens announce solar schools policy
Solar in Schools launch – Dr Russel Norman

Schools would welcome solar power

NZEI Te Riu Roa believes schools would welcome the opportunity to save money on power bills through the Greens’ Solar in Schools policy.

N4L selects 16 Kiwi schools for Pioneer programs…

Techday NZ
N4L will be meeting with the Pioneer School Principals and lead teachersin weeks 2 and 3 of Term 3. Those schools that were not selected for the guided programme have been given the opportunity to use Pond, and run a professional development ...

Video links students to the workforce, says expert

Techday NZ
Video conferencing is assisting students to build the skills they need to enter today's digital workforce, says Marci Powell, Global Director for Education Industry Solutions at Polycom and industry expert in the field of educational technology and ...

Govt gives $107m for Lincoln buildings, $0 for staff

Hau Taki Haere Vol 17 No 24 The government has agreed to give up to $107.5 million in capital funding toward the rebuilding of Lincoln University’s science facilities destroyed in the Canterbury earthquakes. While welcoming...

Steiner school cleared of racist teachings

Stuff.co.nz
It did, however, highlight a need for the school to work with the Steiner Foundation, the governing body of Steiner schools, on an appropriate response to racist writings and beliefs stemming from anthroposophy. Changes were also needed in the areas of ...

A taste of cafe culture at school

Stuff.co.nz
BreWCafe opened last month and is staffed by students studying a barista course, which they used to complete outside school, and outside the reality of a busy cafe. Now students taking the course are flooded with more than 100 coffee orders at ...

Moving mountains for school

Stuff.co.nz
The mountain Sir Edmund Hillary tamed has arrived at the South Auckland school that bears his name. Auckland War Memorial Museum has given a 5 metre by 2m scale 3D version of Everest to Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate. Sagamartha - the Nepalese ...

Tuesday, 22 July 2014

Opening pupils' minds to the world 

How open Kiwi students are to international cultures and opportunities could be measured as an important part of the school curriculum.A new Ministry of Education report has considered how "international capabilities" could be better...

Campaign to boost engineering study at polytechs 

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
The Government is sponsoring a big push for more enrolments in Level 6 and 7 engineering courses in the country’s institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs), Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce says. Mr Joyce today launched a new Engineering - Education to Employment (E2E) initiative to promote engineering as a career to students, with bridging courses, work placements, and scholarships. ...

Internationally recognised Professor takes new role with Ministry of Education

A new Internationally recognised Professor from Auckland University takes on New Role with Ministry of Education.

Greens vague on budget for early childhood education policy

3News NZ
Twenty hours a week of free early childhood education would be extended to two-year-olds in a policy unveiled by the Green Party today. But at a cost of almost $300 million, National is asking who will pay for it. Around 120,000 three- and four-year ...
Greens focus on early-childhood education
Greens announce 20 hours free ECE for two year olds
Greens pledge more support for ECE

NZEI supports Green party’s commitment to quality early childhood education

NZEI Te Riu Roa is welcoming the Green Party’s plans to boost the quality of early childhood education by restoring funding for centres with 100 percent qualified staff.

Bid to keep maori language alive

New Zealand Herald
Initiatives to bolster te reo included Te Ataarangi (a language learning system), kohanga reo (Maori language pre-schools), kura kaupapa Maori (Maori language schools) and Maori broadcasting. The Maori Language Act was passed in 1987, acknowledging ...

Group calls for action on poverty

Schools picking up the slack in dealing with social welfare problems among their pupils is a "recipe for burnout", a Christchurch principal says.

Still a way to go but getting there says Parata

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Tools like National Standards and 6-monthly plain language reporting to parents still need more work, but we are now producing real-time information for parents and boards of trustees so they know what is happening in their local community and for ...

Student Activism Still Alive at Victoria

Newly formed student activist group Reclaim Vic are set to host their first public speaker event this Wednesday at 2pm. The Victoria University student led group formed in response to the increasing corporatisation of the tertiary sector.

Will plus skill needed for healthy school culture

Developing a healthy school culture takes will and skill according to author and school improvement guru Dr Anthony Muhammad. Healthy school cultures are essential to provide equal opportunities and reduce the achievement gap.

Class sizes cut to boost learning

A Palmerston North school is promising to shrink its class sizes in a bid to lift learning.

Monday, 21 July 2014

Excellent progress on education results

Steven Joyce | Education
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata today welcomed the release of the 2014 mid-year Better Public Service results, which show great progress towards the Result Areas 5 and 6 education targets. Result 5 targets increasing the proportion of 18-year-olds with NCEA level 2 or equivalent qualification to 85 per cent by 2017, while Result 6 targets 55 per cent of the population aged 25 to 34 years having a Level 4 or higher qualification by 2017. ...

Social sector makes gains in BPS targets 

Tony Ryall | Education
Results released today show good progress is being made to achieve the Government’s Better Public Services targets, say social sector Ministers Tony Ryall, Paula Bennett and Hekia Parata. “This National-led Government is committed to ensuring New Zealand children are getting a better start in life,” Health Minister Tony Ryall says. “We all need to work together to support children, young people and their families and the Better Public Services targets help us do this,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett. ...

Greens focus on early-childhood education 

The Green Party is planning to extend the early-childhood education subsidy to 2-year-olds to ensure all children had enough to thrive.

Bolger calls for compulsory Maori teaching

Stuff.co.nz
At his school, with 80 per cent Maori students, te reo was integrated into curriculum areas, for example counting and shapes in maths, or with their iwi, hapu and local landmarks in geography. The Ministry of Education said Maori language education was ...

Labour pledges to 'celebrate and safeguard' te reo

A Labour Government will encourage learning and the use of te reo in schools to ensure more children have the opportunity to learn the language, the Labour Party says.The party announced its Te Reo Rangatira policy in Auckland today. It...

Editorial: Te reo Maori far too precious to be lost

Children in primary school are not generally offered subject options. They receive a range of nationally prescribed subjects and skills that will enable them to participate happily, equally and productively in the life of New Zealand....

Te Reo Maori 'a doorway to opportunity'

SunLive
“Te reo Maori is a taonga. As a country New Zealand is a leader in indigenous language learning settings such as Te Kohanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa and Wharekura. Students graduating from these institutions have a higher proportion of success and positive ...

Te Ao Maori course opens doors to tertiary study « LiveNews.co.nz

MIL OSI – Source: Bay Of Plenty Polytechnic – Press Release/Statement. Headline: Te Ao Maori course opens doors to tertiary study. Bay students wishing to transition into diploma or degree study have been given fresh ...

Proposed school zones cause upset 

A public school turf war has broken out in the quiet Auckland suburbs of Greenlane and Remuera.

Class sizes need to drop in tertiary education, too | TEU - Tertiary 

Labour's new policy is kicking off a debate about class sizes with TEU calling for parties to tackle overcrowded lecture theatres.

Student poverty to be focus if Labour-Greens win | TEU - Tertiary ...

The University of Otago graduate longitudinal study in 2012 found 1 in 6 students were unable to purchase necessities such as housing and food by their third year in tertiary education. It's figures like that which has Labour and .... The TEU is a new union for all staff; everybody who works in tertiary education, including polytechnics, teacher education, universities, wānanga and private training institutions, REAPs and OTEPs. We are a democratic organisation and we ...

Just what the teacher ordered

Pati Suailua looked at buying a laptop for his six children to share - now, thanks to a school lease system, he has four Chromebooks in the house.

Friday, 18 July 2014

$200,000 fund for youth projects and organisations

Nikki Kaye | Youth Affairs
Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye has today opened Youth Fund 2015 with $200,000 available for community projects. “The Ministry of Youth Development’s Youth Fund is unique in that it supports projects designed and led by young people aged 12 to 24, or projects by youth organisations in partnership with young people that develop community participation,” Ms Kaye says. “Panels of young people will assess applications to determine successful projects and where the funding will go, resulting in a completely youth-led initiative. . 

$107.5m to Lincoln University science rebuild

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced that the Government has approved in principle to provide up to $107.5 million in capital funding toward the rebuilding of Lincoln University’s science facilities destroyed in the Canterbury earthquakes. ..

N4L announces Pioneer Schools

Techday NZ
N4L will be meeting with the Pioneer School Principals and lead teacher sin weeks 2 and 3 of Term 3. Those schools that were not selected for the guided programme have been given the opportunity to use Pond, and run a professional development ...

Call to teach financial literacy grows

New Zealand Herald
A lack of financial education saw people refinancing to keep up with their debt. "Often the credit card debt is the way they get the ... Maori students scored on average 466 points and Pasifika students 424. Massey University's Fin-Ed Centre director ...

1,600 to 1: Public, experts blast Joyce’s council changes

Tertiary Update Vol 17 No 23 Members of the public and education professionals came out swinging against changes to the controversial bill which removes guaranteed staff and student representation from the country’s 11 university...

Government continues bid to remove political independence of teachers

The government has ignored the overwhelming concerns of New Zealanders in its bid to quash the political independence of the teaching profession.

College's new zone to overlap elite schools

Another success story will see a central Auckland school get its own zone. A rapidly rising roll has caused the Ministry of Education to direct One Tree Hill College to draw up a proposed school zone.The school, which has seen its...

Thursday, 17 July 2014

Schools 'slow to improve results'

Stuff.co.nz
Post-Primary Teachers' Association president Angela Roberts said schools were "pretty much working at capacity" and lacked resourcing and professional development needed to get a "systematic lift". The study, which focused on the Level 2 results of 40 ...

Select Committee Reports Back on Education Amendment Bill

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata today welcomed the report back on the Education Amendment Bill (No 2). “The report back, by majority, was completed by the Education and Science ...

Education and Science Select Committee report disappoints

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
This week the Education Amendment Bill (No 2) moved out of the Education and Science Select Committee without amendments to its dangerous reforms to reduce the size of universities and wānanga councils. If the Bill passes guaranteed student and staff ...

Education Advocacy Group "Deeply Concerned" Over Decision

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The decision has been met with dismay from the school and tertiary teaching sector at large and several educational organisations and commentators, including Educational Institute secretary Paul Goulter, who has called the bill's announcement 'an ...

Academic's support for caning in schools outrages teachers

An arch-conservative appointed to rid Australia's national curriculum of supposed left-wing bias has backed the use of corporal punishment in schools, provided it is "done properly". Dr Kevin Donnelly, who has previously called for...

Course helps young tradies build career

New Zealand Herald
Getting local Maori and Pacific Islanders into a career, not just a job, is the main aim behind a new training programme. SkillMe Maori and Pasifika Trades Training was launched in Rotorua yesterday by Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister ...

Rural areas may lose the faith, says priest

NZ Catholic
Fr Damian Wynn-Williams, parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, told NZ Catholic that children in rural areas are not receiving any Catholic education at all, apart from the adult sermons they may receive in church on Sunday. “I'm really ...

More places earmarked for rural medical students

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Half of the positions will be offered to rural students through the Regional and Rural Admissions Scheme at the University of Auckland and the Rural Sub Category at the University of Otago. The other 17 places will be offered to students through the ...

Exhibition highlights Māori Deaf students' experiences

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The unique collaborative project saw students from Kelston Deaf Education Centre in Auckland step out of the classroom with a goal of developing a stronger connection to their whakapapa, using photovoice and narrative methods to explore te ao Māori ...

14-16 July 2014

Select Committee Reports Back on Education Amendment Bill (No 2) 

Steven Joyce | Education
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata today welcomed the report back on the Education Amendment Bill (No 2). “The report back, by majority, was completed by the Education and Science Committee, which carefully considered the many submissions received from individuals and organisations,” Ms Parata says. ...

Māori & Pasifika Trades Training launched in Rotorua

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today launched the Government’s new Māori and Pasifika Trades Training initiative for Rotorua. The SkillMe consortium led by Waiariki Institute of Technology in partnership with Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue Iho Ake Trust, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiarangi and Taumarunui Community Kokiri Trust, has been set up to get more young Maori and Pasifika into apprenticeships and employment. ...

750 additional Trades Academy places for 2015

Steven Joyce | Education
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced that 5,250 student places will be available across New Zealand’s 22 Trades Academies in 2015. This is an increase of 750 places from the current allocation of 4,500 places. ...

$14.9 million upgrade for Rangiora High School 

Nikki Kaye | Education
The Government is investing $14.9 million in Rangiora High School to upgrade its buildings and facilities and to accommodate a growing roll, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today. “Rangiora High School has experienced a significant roll increase following the Christchurch earthquakes. It has a large number of relocatable classrooms in very poor condition, and property issues have compounded over time to the point where a substantial redevelopment is required. ...

Online tool targets youth literacy and numeracy

Techday NZ
The new Youth Option will assist with lifting adult literacy and numeracy, getting at-risk young people into a career, and boosting achievements for Māori and Pasifika, three of the key priorities of the Tertiary Education Strategy, says Joyce. “As the ...

'Lack of urgency' over NCEA improvements

Stuff.co.nz
Three-quarters of secondary schools are not actively improving pupils' NCEA achievement and some staff have a "lack of urgency" to do so, a new report says. An Education Review Office (ERO) report released today - Raising Achievement in Secondary ...
Secondary schools encouraged to increase student achievement

Education ministry 'still got work to do

'Last week I read Antonia Hannah's report Imagine your child going through this.

A good education can open doors 

Stuff.co.nz
Few people would have as wide a perspective on New Zealand business as Rick Christie. The career of the 70 year-old "former scientist" has spanned the oil industry, the agricultural and the high-tech sectors and he has had feet in the public and ...

Patrick Gower interviews Education Minister Hekia Parata

Scoop.co.nz
Says her office is a "high intensity" place to work but denies Trevor Mallard' allegations. Patrick Gower: Good morning Minister and you heard it there: here you have your major education policy and primary school teachers and principals don't want a ...

Zoning needed as rolls swell

Two Auckland secondary schools are acting quickly to lighten the load after a period of rapid roll growth.

Party Policies - Adult and Community Education

Interest.co.nz
In 2008 a PricewaterhouseCoopers study showed that for every dollar invested in ACE by the government there was at least a $16 return. Labour will restore $13m per year for Adult and Community Education. Another $9m per year on top of that from 2018.

Thumbs down from school leaders for Govt education plan

Scoop.co.nz
NZ Principals' Federation President Philip Harding said school leaders were not convinced that this policy was flexible enough to work effectively in schools which often sit in vastly different contexts, both geographically and socially. School leaders ...

Party Policies - National Standards

Interest.co.nz
Oppose the system of National Standards that was introduced in 2010, and remove the requirement for schools to report against them. Support the continued implementation of the National Curriculum and reinstate the advisory service to advise on its ...

Govtt continues bid to remove teachers' independence

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The legislation will makes it easier for unqualified and unregistered people to act as teachers in charter schools as well as removing the right of teachers to directly elect their own professional body. "The government has completely disregarded the ...

Labour tight-lipped about long-term plans for te reo in schools

Otago Daily Times
Labour Maori affairs spokeswoman Nanaia Mahuta and education spokesman Chris Hipkins indicated Labour had an "aspirational" target for Maori to be taught in all schools after the Maori Party's Te Tai Tokerau candidate, Te Hira Paenga, claimed Labour ...

Compulsory te reo: 'Good idea but must go further'

Voxy
Mr Paenga, who is a graduate of Kohanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa and Wharekura, and a later graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo (Institute of Excellence in the Māori Language), said that the word "māori" means natural, and that he would work with any ...

Debate over charter schools for Maori

Radio New Zealand
A Hamilton-based health provider bidding to establish a charter school is rejecting a claim that kura hourua set up Maori to fail. Te Kohao Health is responding to comments made by an education expert from Chile, who's in New Zealand to give lectures ...

Charter schools 'bad for Maori'

Radio New Zealand
Mr Trevino said Maori have a holistic approach to learning which is not prized in what he describes as a market-style education system. Research shows charter schools tend to select students that are more able to keep costs down, he said. He said the ...

Minister's Maori Language Strategy Is Wrong

waateanews.com
The Maori language renaissance was born in the cities, at Marae like Hoani Waititi, and at Kohanga Reo in Auckland and Wellington. So much is owed to the people who led that, who were without doubt proud tribal people but who chose to make their lives ...

Maori teachers reject bonus policy

waateanews.com
Maori educationalists say the Government is failing to invest in real solutions to improve outcomes for Maori students. The 200 delegates at the Kahui Whetu conference in Dunedin have called for $359m funding set aside for the Investing in Educational ...
Educators call for better spending to tackle inequality

Support for special needs students stretched

Stuff.co.nz
Students with special learning needs are still missing out on help with their NCEA exams, despite the scrapping of an expensive assessment fee, say parents, schools and the Dyslexia Foundation. In March, a review of the special assessment conditions ...

Kerre McIvor: Lab rats in the classroom

For Labour, size matters. Particularly when it comes to education.Among a plethora of promises made by David Cunliffe this week was a commitment to cut teacher-student ratios in primary schools from 1:29 to 1:26 and to reduce the...

Liam Dann: Let's teach all our kids to code

Imagine teaching every child in this country how to program a computer - from age 5. When you think about it, it is odd that we don't. Don't get me wrong. I know we have computers in the classroom. The kids all get a go and some...

Govt ramps up ICT support for NZ schools

Techday NZ
Schools will be able to make the most of their new connections to the Managed Network with the establishment of an ICT Advisory Service. Announced this week by Nikki Kaye, Associate Education Minister, the targeted service will be delivered by Network ...

Govt mocks Labour's “out of date” ICT NZ plans…

Techday NZ
“That's why we're investing nearly $30 million dollars in our ICT grad schools for final year undergraduate and postgraduate training. They would be far better to endorse that approach. “And the party that has spent the last couple of months saying ...
Labour promises tech tax breaks

Educating disadvantaged children

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The similarities in educating disadvantaged children in New Zealand and Chile and the dangers of charter schools are the subjects of a public lecture at the University of Auckland this month. Professor Ernesto Treviño of the Universidad Diego Portales, ...

Tauranga campus funds up for debate

The fate of the University of Waikato's proposed multimillion-dollar Tauranga campus could be decided today.

University thinks big with $100m plan

A $100 million building investment by Victoria University is part of a grand plan to double student enrolments in the next 20 years.

Pay rise of 1.25pc for UCOL staff

The drawn-out industrial dispute at UCOL has come to a close, with polytechnic staff pocketing a pay rise this week.

Pasifika students are conference focus

Newstalk ZB
Pasifika students' education is the focus of a two day conference beginning today in Auckland. The conference will explore the importance of making connections in classrooms and with families, communities and agencies to help achieve educational ...

More money lessons needed in schools

New Zealand Herald
Starting the education early would help people "keep their financial house tidy", he said. The report found the relationship between New ... Maori students scored on average 466 points and Pasifika students 424. Students with an immigrant background ...

Students Oppose Library Closure

Elizabeth Berryman, President of the Otago University Medical Students’ Association, is today condemning the closure of the only dedicated library and study space for health professional students.

College awarded own zone

An Auckland school will have a zone for the first time after a remarkable turnaround in its results and reputation.The move at Selwyn College in Kohimarama is part of a wider effort to cope with the growth in Auckland's population,...