Monday 29 September 2014

Parata suggests new assessments

Education Minister Hekia Parata has raised the possibility of introducing a new level of assessment for children in their first two years of secondary schooling.

Payment was for payroll errors, not compensation

A report in this morning’s Dominion Post claiming a $252,100 payment to the PPTA

Govt endorses ACT policy, announces new partnership schools

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
"The ACT Party is thrilled at the government's announcement of four new Kura Hourua Partnership schools." said ACT leader Jamie Whyte. "Kura Hourua Partnership schools are designed to bring committed people into educating our most vulnerable New ...

Funding boost for Asian languages an important step

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“Children learning te reo Māori are better placed to learn a second and third language than a child who remains monolingual.” The Foundation'sannual Perceptions of Asia survey, published in March, found New Zealanders consider Chinese the most ...

Upgrades rocket Hadlow school into the future

Stuff.co.nz
"It looks quite old-school . . . you look out the window and see them whipping around in ties and blazers, and then what they do in theclassroom is actually leading-edge," parent Samantha Venning said. Hadlow is undergoing an ambitious remodelling to ...

A good old-fashioned sex education

Stuff.co.nz
In his 1910 book Prostitution and Sex Education, author Willard Packard Hatch encouraged parents to mimic the lectures he himself gave to children: "From peanuts I go to eggs (fish), telling the wonderful story of salmon, shad, stickleback, frogs and ...

The great Auckland school zone shift

Thousands of students are travelling long distances across Auckland to avoid their local schools.Figures show that each day around 3100 students in West Auckland travel to secondary schools in the central isthmus, with a further...

Teachers support PM’s call for solutions to child poverty

NZEI Te Riu Roa is pleased to hear that the Prime Minister is calling for new ideas to address child poverty.

Otago researchers seek parents for survey of school costs

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Take-home items, activities, events, and school trips also often attract extra costs. Where a school provides experiences to most children, but not all, those who miss out may also miss out on opportunities to fit in toschool social groups. In this ...

UCOL Carpentry Students Know No Boundaries

Certificate in Carpentry students have gained plenty of hands-on fence building experience recently – a whole 200 metres of it.

Workday ships first app for higher education in strike against Oracle

PCWorld.co.nz
Workday has been developing the recruiting app with the help of a "Noah's ark of the education world," spanning Ivy League schools such as Yale to technical colleges and community colleges, said Liz Dietz, vice president of student strategy and product ...

NetSafe joins N4L

Techday NZ
NetSafe will also work in association with digital technology industry and government partners it has relationships with. NetSafe promotes the confident, safe and responsible use of online technologies through their work with schools and the wider ...

Friday 26 September 2014

$250000 to sweeten PPTA's pot after Novopay debacle

The Press
The Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA), along with eight individual members, took Secretary of Education Peter Hughes to High Court last year, claiming he failed in his responsibility to ensure staff were paid correctly and on time through the ...

Educators told they need to take risks

Stuff.co.nz
The culture of always having to get things right had to be reimagined, both in the classroom and in the staffroom, to improve education, he said. Gerver also touched upon the use of technology in the classroom. Technology and devices were being hailed ...

Parents want better local school

Stuff.co.nz
Ministry reports show the number of students going to local schools in Manurewa has dropped steadily. Almost 7000 high school students live in the suburb but only about 4000 attend a local school. Wright said Clayton Park is performing well with a peak ...

Doubts over tests for years 9 and 10

Stuff.co.nz
"Both the profession and I are aware that an assessment tool is needed for years 9-10 and any option will need to be fully discussed." Questions put to the minister about whether the National Standards testing regime used by primary and intermediate ...

School absenteeism horrifies police

More than 300 high school students were absent across three schools during a random check - and police are concerned truants could be contributing to local crime.A police truancy operation in Manurewa last Wednesday morning found...

Vocabulary development in children - what's normal?

Speech and language therapist Christian Wright discusses vocabulary development in children - why it's so important, what factors impact on language development, and what parents can do.

Govt rushes to open charter schools in New Year against advice

The government’s decision to approve four new charter schools last week to open in January next year goes against the Minister of Education’s own advice that the schools ought to have at least a year’s preparation time.

Govt continues to throw money at charter school experiment

Official documents reveal the three primary sector charter schools approved last week will cost $2 million to set up as well as divert another $1.5 million of potential taxpayer investment from local state schools next year.

PM needs to disown Act's dangerous education agenda

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Act policies specifically include giving integrated and state schools the same “flexibility” as charter schools. NZEI Te Riu Roa National President Judith Nowotarski says this would only lead to bulk funding and increased privatisation in our public ...

Drawing can be good for learning

Stuff.co.nz
She believes drawing is the key to improving memory and focus on goals, and should be incorporated into the classroom. Studies showed pictures aided memory, and hanging a picture of the end goal on the wall would give pupils and staff a clear result to ...

High marks for NCEA app

Stuff.co.nz
Wellington man Wasim Talim and his former college teacher Jeff King have developed an app to fill a gap in the market. Developing an original and genuinely useful mobile app is no easy task, with more than 1.2 million apps available on iTunes. However ...

Teacher's 'spark' inspires students

Stuff.co.nz
When Melanie Wihongi-Popham was about four she wandered into her siblings' classroom and read the kids a book. She was told she'd make a brilliant teacher. Years later, the Maeroa Intermediate teacher has been named New Zealand's most inspiring ...

Democracy goes to pot at school

Students at one of Wellington's top schools appear to have toked on the bong of hope after the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party came second in a mock election.

School seeks help to cross digital divide

Stuff.co.nz
The school doubled its NCEA level 2 achievement rates for Maori andPasifika in its first digital year. Shortcliffe hopes to see the same results in Hastings schools, and for Ngati Kahungunu and the council to underwrite a trust and support the ...

“..Tertiary students overwhelmingly voted for a change of ...

The National Party's vote was more than 10 percentage points lower in polling stations at Auckland and Dunedin universities compared with the rest of the country. Its support of around 37 per cent in booths on or near ...

Government continues its obsession with testing children

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Primary teachers and principals say testing students in their first two years of secondary school would stifle creativity and exacerbate the damage caused by National Standards in primary education. NZEI Te Riu Roa National President Judith Nowotarski ...

Lifting Kiwi students' business savvy at AUT :: Idealog :: the ...

Research points to student entrepreneurs and their businesses rarely surviving beyond six years whilestudents also tend to wind up their businesses when they graduate, with fewer than 20% continuing more than a year ...

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Families too poor for NCEA

Stuff.co.nz
The cost of NCEA fees is forcing hundreds of Waikato students or their families to apply for financial assistance. More than 1700 Waikato applications for help to pay for subject or scholarship exams have already been approved this year. Throughout New ...

School-zone 'apartheid'

Stuff.co.nz
Schools are manipulating zones to attract the advantaged and limit access to the disadvantaged in what educators are calling a growing ''educational apartheid''. The Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) wants an Education Ministry review of ...

Landslide no mandate for reform - teachers

3News NZ
The largest teachers' union in the country says it will continue to fight against the Government's plans to reform the education system, despite the weekend's historic election landslide. In winning 48 percent of the vote, National became the first ...

Teach voting in school: Greens

MSN NZ News
The Green Party wants children taught the value of voting after one of the worst election turnouts in the country's history. Just over 77 per cent of enrolled New Zealanders voted in Saturday's election, an increase from 74.2 per cent in 2011, but ...
Action needed to increase voter turnout numbers

Students starve to pay their bills

Stuff.co.nz
Hard-up students are scrimping on basic necessities due to shoe-string budgets, worrying student union leaders. A New Zealand Union ofStudents' Associations (NZUSA) survey of 5000 polytechnic and university students found nearly half of fulltime ...

Calling all leaders - October is connected educator month

Connected Educator Month is a global initiative designed to support and promote networked approaches to educational professional learning. This year it is coming to New Zealand. Leaders and teachers are invited to engage this month-long event from October 1, 2014. Thousands of educators, in NZ and beyond, will be connected to free professional learning events, communities and resources, regional, national, and global workshops, keynotes, panels, discussions and more. Why not join them?

High expectation teachers lift students' success

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
It explores three key areas that high expectation teachers enact differently: the way they group students for learning, the way they create a caring classroom community and the way in which they use goal setting to motivate students and to promote ...

National win will not benefit Early Childhood Education

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The election outcome does not bode well for the care of children and the early childhood education sector which sees little positive change in the near future. Promises for improving the sector were made on the hustings and the more vibrant ones were ...

Principal takes on role as consultant

Stuff.co.nz
National Standards were also not good for schools, Facer said. "They [schools] were forced to comply without professional development. Some schools had to reinvent the wheel working with a flawed system." In his new role working for himself, Facer said ...

Turtle-bot heads into battle

New Zealand university students are about to battle international competition to decide who has built and programmed the best robot.A team from the University of Auckland will today fly to Sydney - with their hopes pinned on a creation...

Tour aims to build understanding of Korea in NZ classrooms

Ten teachers from Invercargill to Auckland are about swap their classrooms for Seoul – a city at the forefront of technology, trade and culture.

Former pupil returns to lead

Stuff.co.nz
Perched up by the university, St John's College has a wonderful view across to Pirongia and over the top of Hamilton. But it's a boys' school and not many of them are contemplating the view during lunch time - instead there are chattering, chuckling ...

Site of John Key's former school to be developed

Stuff.co.nz
Prime Minister John Key's former Christchurch primary school has been sold and the site is being cleared for future development. Bryndwr's Aorangi School was closed by the Ministry of Education in 2010 and 2.2-hectares of land disposed of through the ...

Monday 22 September 2014

Key's priorities: Economy, education and the flag

3News NZ
The past six years have been rocky for the education system, with teachers often clashing with the Government over issues such as National Standards, Novopay and charter schools. But Mr Key says there is more work to do. "Education reform is important, ...

Are school lunches harming our kids?

Stuff.co.nz
Food being sold to teenagers at school canteens has been slammed as unhealthy and sub standard by experts. A Fairfax Media investigation into lunch options available to secondary schools pupils has found most of the food contained high levels of ...

Education head office move a cost-saver

Stuff.co.nz
Deputy secretary of education Kristine Kilkelly said 1100 of its 1300 head office staff would move into the Bowen St block. Offices have not yet been found for the remaining 200 but the plan was to house them in 2000-3000sqm of office space in another ...

Result spells "trouble" for students

Gay NZ
The move towards charter schools, which are significantly funded by public money but run by groups such as anti-gay religious groups, will inevitably pick up momentum due to the general election outcome and spells trouble for some glbti students ...

Intermediate's new block embraces technology

Techday NZ
Northcross Intermediate School now has a $4 million technology block that supports modern teaching styles in a modern learning environment. The Auckland school's new two-storey technology block was opened this week. Nikki Kaye, Associate Education ...

Boost for Kiwi schools as Instructure makes moves into ANZ…

Techday NZ
“Now that we've got people on the ground in the Australia and New Zealand market, we are much better equipped to help schools, universities and other places of education across New Zealand, Australia and the rest of Asia implement great technology to ...

School could be language hub

Stuff.co.nz
Ruth Medcalf (left), a NZ sign language interpreter and Megan Chamberlain help Freyberg High School announces their new language programme where it will be compulsory for every year 9 student to take a second language.

An open letter to all students: Students Matter

Students have a critical role to play in the outcome of the General Election. There are 417,516 students in New Zealand and we make up 14% of the total number of voters. We have the collective power to decide who is leading the next Government. Every ...

WGTN: March for free education

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
... VUW Campus Hub for a student and staff forum, before marching onwards (to parliament? National Party offices? Ministry of Education? Participants will determine our final destination). Event called by Reclaim Vic, endorsed by Tertiary Education Union.

Hutt City Libraries leading online learning

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Hutt City Libraries leading online learning. Hutt City Libraries is the first public library in New Zealand to offer access tolynda.com – a world-renowned online tutorial service. Hutt City Libraries has subscribed to lynda.com so Hutt City residents ...

Board sacks defiant principal

Kawakawa Primary School principal Peter Witana has been dismissed after an investigation raised financial management questions.Mr Witana declined to comment and is taking his dismissal to the Employment Relations Authority, but...

Words of inspiration for students 

Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) students have been urged to make the most of their education by one its most high-profile graduates.

Friday 19 September 2014

Parties measured on commitment to tertiary funding and governance

Tertiary Update Vol 17 No 31 A comparison of each political party’s tertiary education policies to TEU’s blueprint for tertiary education, Te Kaupapa Whaioranga, shows some parties are committed to the same principles that TEU members endorsed as solutions to improve tertiary education last year, but others are not. At its annual conference last year […]

Govt continues to throw money at charter school experiment

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Official documents reveal the three primary sector charter schoolsapproved last week will cost $2 million to set up as well as divert another $1.5 million of potential taxpayer investment from local state schools next year. NZEI Te Riu Roa National ...

Govt rushes to open charter schools in New Year

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The government's decision to approve four new charter schools last week to open in January next year goes against the Minister of Education's own advice that the schools ought to have at least a year's preparation time. NZEI Te Riu Roa President Judith ...

Pond invites all educators to jump on in

Techday NZ
Pond, the Network for Learning (N4L) portal, is now open to all educators working in New Zealand schools. The 'Make a Splash' programme is also being introduced so schools can self-manage their journey into the Pond environment. The 'Make a Splash' ...

Zoning out – is it time for a review?

The last few years have seen rising inequality between schools and the erosion of students’ right to attend their local school.

Engagement role key to Victoria’s future plan

Victoria University of Wellington’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) whose role will be focused on increasing engagement with the University’s communities.

New departments get new heads

Lincoln University has announced its Head of Department appointees for the four newly established departments making up the recently revamped Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce (previously the Faculty of Commerce).

St Mary's is a family tradition

Sarah Poulter is only 13 years old but her education is already steeped in history.

Thursday 18 September 2014

New poll to gauge student success

New Zealand Herald
The ministry provided a range of support to schools to help promote student wellbeing, and had worked with the New Zealand Council for Educational Research to develop an online tool that helps measure student engagement. Gallup's website lists prices ...

Vote14: Parties on Education

MSN NZ News
But for minor parties the battlefield is tertiary education where multiple parties are competing for the student vote. The Greens are offering free off-peak public transport, NZ First is promising to bring in a universal student allowance, and both ...

Students to share their views on older people

Jo Goodhew | Senior Citizens

Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew has announced an essay competition for primary school students aimed at understanding youth attitudes towards older people. “To promote positive ageing, it is important to understand the attitudes and perceptions younger people have towards their elders,” says Mrs Goodhew. “The essay topic: 1914 – 2014: The greatest greats and grands of the last 100 years, is all about inspirational or prominent older New Zealanders in the last 100 years. ...

Charter school a boost for Maori kids

Stuff.co.nz
The Manukau Urban Maori Authority chief executive welcomes the Government plan to open four new charter schools next year, including two in South Auckland. The schools will cost $15.5 million over four years. Jackson's organisation will sponsor Te Kura ...

AUT Opens New Centre to Boost NZ Science And Tech Education

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
STEM-TEC focuses on providing research opportunities and educational resources for the teaching of STEM subjects at tertiary level. To date, the majority of the promotion of STEM subject has occurred in primary and secondary education, with relatively ...
AUT University opens new centre… Boosts NZ science and tech education

St Cuthbert's College looks to gain from new complex 

A new $17 million health and fitness centre at private Epsom girls' school St Cuthbert's College opens today.Principal Lynda Reid said the Centre for Wellbeing housed a 25m swimming pool with movable floor, learners' pool, fitness...

Wednesday 17 September 2014

Campaign trail takes leaders to schools

He faced a lecture theatre full of students at Waikato University and had smoko with workers at a Te Rapa factory but the warmest welcome for David Cunliffe as he campaigned in Hamilton yesterday was from Maori children at the Western...

Education a hot election topic

Stuff.co.nz
But IES remains National's top answer to raising student achievement. For parents, class sizes, national standards, the increasing introduction of charter schools, special education, and bible education in schools may be issues affecting their children ...

Jobs and education pledges well received

Stuff.co.nz
"When you are finished with that, kids, we're going to have 21st century classrooms with lots of cool digital stuff so you will be able to do your homework on the net at home and at school. It's going to be really cool to be at school." Nawton retiree ...

Pasifika Education Plan – Policy to practice

This blog post takes a closer look at the Pasifika Education Plan and the Pasifika Education Implementation Plan. It offers reflective questions, ideas, stories, and resources to support and inspire schools to make a difference for all Pasifika students.

Concern over poor university rankings

Kiwi universities' sustained slide down world rankings has education leaders worried that talented academics will abandon New Zealand for more options overseas.

'Inspired' teachers key to tertiary step-up

Not enough students are being inspired by teachers to aim for tertiary study, a survey has found.

University of Auckland tops NZ rankings

The University of Auckland is the highest-rated New Zealand university in the latest QS World University Rankings.

University of Auckland retains number one ranking

The University of Auckland has again been ranked as the leading university in New Zealand following the publication of the 2014 QS World University Rankings. The University of Auckland has again been ranked as the leading university in New Zealand following ...

Major funding investment in University of Auckland research

Major funding investment in University of Auckland research

UC retains ranking in top three percent of universities

The University of Canterbury has retained its ranking among the top three per cent of universities in the world.

Canterbury University $100m richer after signing deal

Canterbury University finally has access to the first of two $100-million funding installments that the Government promised last year.

Green Party will help students in financial distress

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
... to students trying to make ends meet. “We'll help student incomes rise through a lift in the minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2017, and we'll reduce their expenses by restricting rent rises, and bringing down power bills through our NZ Power scheme.

Hundreds of Students Turn Out for Political Debate

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
With only a few days left before the general election, over 500 Victoria students packed the central Hub space on campus today to listen to a political debate on student issues organised by the Students' Association. Victoria University of Wellington ...

Microsoft's Yammer Enterprise invites schools on board

Techday NZ
Educational institutions across New Zealand now have free access to Microsoft's networking platform, Yammer Enterprise. Yammer Enterprise offers schools a sophisticated version of the social networking platform. Within a school's internal online ...

HP NZ provides $10k tech boost for winning rural school…

Techday NZ
Northland's Te Kura O Hata Maria School has been awarded the winning prize in the inaugural HP Rural Schools Competition. The school has won $10,000 worth of HP prizes, ahead of over 60 entries from rural schools throughout New Zealand. For their ...
Te Kura O Hata Maria wins HP national tech competition

11-16 September 2014

Election news

Election 2014: A good education
Stuff.co.nz
Would scrap national standards and redirect funding into professional development for teachers. Promises everyone would have access to adult and community education. GREEN: Would ensure state schools are fully funded so education is not dependent ...

Policy summary: Education
3News NZ
... literacy and numeracy at primary school; remove tertiary tuition fees; abolish student allowance. NZ First: Support growth of parent-led early childhood education; abolish National Standards and charter schools; introduce universal tertiary living ...

Rating the education policies
Interest.co.nz
The first point to note is that both of these papers were written to counter arguments and evidence that suggest that class size is not a critical issue in education outcomes. So although class size might yet help education outcomes, there is not the ...

Election 2014 - Party Policies - Maori/Pasifika Education
Interest.co.nz
Establish ten experiential learning pilots in Māori medium and generaleducation schools, to grow entrepreneurial skills. Invest in opportunities to migrate Māori educational content into the digital environment (te reo versions of digital publications ...

Election 2014 - Party Policies - Primary Education
Interest.co.nz
Oppose charter schools, repeal the enabling legislation around charter schools, and maintain the current flexibility to support/create some state schools designated special character. Continue to oppose any voucher systems for schools. Centrally fund ...

Election 2014 - Party Policies - Secondary Education
Interest.co.nz
Review the current staffing allocation model and encourage New Zealand based research into the identification and measurement of relative impact, of the factors including actual class size, that impact on the ability of teachers to use the pedagogies ...

Election Issues: Education 

Education is one of the issues that almost always gets a mention in election campaigns, even one that has been dominated by ‘dirty politics’ and arguments over the gap between rich and poor.

Maori Party reveal education policy
New Zealand Herald
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell said there were lifelong benefits for all children participating in pre-school education. Rotorua educationproviders are welcoming the Maori Party's new education policy, which includes compulsory Maori history ...

Greens' Inclusive Education Policy a good step forward
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
IEAG is a group of disabled people, their families, education professionals, researchers and disability advocates committed to ensuring that all disabled children, young people and adults may participate fully in their local, regular educational setting.

Internet-Mana promises free tertiary study
Stuff.co.nz
Free tertiary education and a universal student allowance could be delivered immediately if they were prioritised over tax cuts, the Internet-Mana Party says. Details of the party's free tertiary education policy have been released, which it says would ...
Internet Mana Outlines Free Tertiary Education Plan
Internet Mana chases student vote

National targets more skills training for Maori
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
A re-elected National Government will expand the Maori and Pasifika Trades Training Initiative by a further 2000 places and include agriculturaltraining alongside trades training to help address skill shortages in the primary sector, National Party ...

Charter school news

Four new Partnership Schools to open
Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced the Government has signed contracts to open four new Partnership Schools in 2015. “These new schools will help raise educational achievement, in particular for those groups of students who have for a long time been under-served by the mainstream system,” Ms Parata says. ...

Parata talks tough
Stuff.co.nz
A cry of "charter schools" came from one conference-goer and was applauded by the floor. But Parata said the schools were giving struggling children another chance and she wouldn't "abandon that possibility". Before the conference address Parata made a ...

Four more charter schools for Akld and Whangarei
Stuff.co.nz
Four more charter schools will open in Auckland and Whangarei next year at a cost of $15 million. Education Minister Hekia Parata said the Government had signed contracts to open the four schools, also known as partnership schools, in Manukau, West ...
Unanswered Questions about Charter Schools
Govt to open four new charter schools

Charter schools the future of education?
3News NZ
Occupying part of the Elim buildings in Manurewa, South Auckland Middle School is one of New Zealand's first charter schools – today Campbell Live spent the day inside to find out how it works. Academic manager Alwyn Poole says it is actually much ...

New charter schools irresponsible
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
By approving four new charter schools the government is being reckless with public money and careless with our kids. PPTA president Angela Roberts said the announcement of the new schools was “totally irresponsible” and would come at a huge cost to the ...

Go ahead for charters schools wrong
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“This decision should not have been made just days before an election, which could ultimately lead to charter schools ceasing to exist,” Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said. “It's doubly irresponsible to commit an additional $15 ...

Charter Schools now even smaller and more expensive
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
NZ's charter school experiment is proving to be even more expensive than first thought, as two schools have experienced falling rolls since the start of the 2014 school year and three remain below what is termed their “Guaranteed Minimum Roll” for ...

Scrap charter schools, Labour says

Critics quick to condemn new charter schools

Critics have been quick to condemn the government's announcement of four new charter schools to open next year.

Government gets arrogant and reckless over charter schools
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
"It is reckless of the government to sign contracts for new charter schoolswhen all opposition parties have made it clear that charter schools will be scrapped if there is a change of government. Trying to force these schools through a week before the ...

Partnership Schools Are a Shambles? ‘Relative to What?’

“The Quality Public Education Consortium’s (QPEC) figures for higher per pupil funding are a distraction from more important questions about whether Partnership Schools are effective,” says PhD Scholar, Steve Thomas.

Blindly Defending Failed Charter Schools Experiment
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
National's charter schools are “crashing and burning” while the Education Minister Hekia Parata blindly defends this failed experiment in taxpayer funded privatisation of education, says New Zealand First. “Northland school Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru ...

Authorisation Board Welcomes New Partnership Schools
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“All of the schools, both current and new, have demonstrated a commitment to work with their local communities and can drive improved results for priority students including Maori, Pasifika and those from low socio-economic backgrounds,” said Ms Isaac ...

Tech news

Join NZ and global educators online this October to connect, collaborate and ...
Techday NZ
CEM is a cornucopia of online events and activities including forums and conversations with experts, webinars, virtual guided tours, book groups, Maori and Pasifika learning, live streams from CORE Education'sULearn14 Conference and much more.

High marks for NCEA app
Stuff.co.nz
It is also Number 1 on the New Zealand education apps chart. "We're climbing the charts big- time, which is almost unheard of for a New Zealand app," Talim said. "We spent $5 on advertising on Facebook and everything else has been word of mouth. We're ...

Educational game proves a win for social skills…
Techday NZ
A computer game that enables children to apply their knowledge to real-life situations could benefit those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other social needs. The game, developed by University of Canterbury PhD student Atefeh ...

ECE news

Study exploring Kiwi kids' vocabularyParents of about 1700 toddlers are needed for the country's first study into early language development.

Primary and secondary school news

College moves to themed English, maths subjects
Stuff.co.nz
Hart said he started looking at ways to boost student achievement last year, researching other decile six secondary schools that were getting better NCEA results than Heretaunga College. He came across the example of Hauraki Plains College in the small ...

Poor children still under-represented in exam help figures 

Poor children with learning disabilities are missing out on help when sitting their NCEA exams.

Proximity to poverty drives mums and dads out of school zones
Stuff.co.nz
"But there is nothing wrong with the education they get. The problem ... Nearly 56 per cent of South Auckland parents questioned believed their children were disadvantaged by the school zoning system, according to the findings of a stuff.co.nz/IPSOS ...

Cannabis use linked to academic failure 

Cannabis use among teens has long-term harmful consequences, a damning new study shows.

Every student deserves to be heard

Stuff.co.nz
On any given day in a classroom, at least half the students are not having their needs fully met.

Posh school's new code

One of Auckland's poshest schools expects not only its students to turn up to class in correct uniform - but also its staff.And under Auckland Grammar School's strict dress code for teachers, plunging necklines and hemlines of skirts...

School's hair rule may be challenged 

A near-unanimous vote has parents at St John's College supporting the school's "new hair rule" following the Lucan Battison case, but the long-haired student's lawyer says it could be challenged in court.On June 27 Justice David...

'Gobsmacked' by proposed school hair rule

The tangled matter of Lucan Battison's hair could end up back in court, as his school is accused of failing to meet a judge's ruling.

Aranui public-private school plan gains backing
Stuff.co.nz
The Ministry of Education called for groups to be part of the year 1-13 Aranui community campus set to open in 2017 after Aranui High and Aranui, Avondale and Wainoni primary schools close at the end of 2016. The council, Canterbury District Health ...

Let's talk about sex - but not with 7-year-olds
Children as young as 7 are the new target for the birds-and-the-bees chat in British classrooms - but school leaders here say it is parents who need to take responsibility for sex education.

Fresh directions for NZ's oldest school
A major milestone for the country's oldest school will see some of its famous alumni meet up - and some keen discussion on what its future holds.Wesley College, at Paerata near Pukekohe, marks 170 years of existence with reunion...

Troubled college gets new head
Stuff.co.nz
Board of trustees chairman Allan Holden said in April that Cargo's departure was "not unwelcome" but would not give further details. The school was pleased to be moving on to the next chapter and it was now focused on driving student achievement, he said.

Staggering Half-Year NCEA Results at Vanguard

Over 91% of Vanguard Military Level Two students have already achieved, or are on track to achieve their NCEA Level Two qualifications, Vanguard Chief Executive Nick Hyde said today.

Tertiary news

Otago researchers gain major science funding 

Six innovative University of Otago-led research proposals will receive $10.15 M in new science investment funding announced by the Government today.

Major funding investment in University of Auckland science
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
She is Director of the University's Photo Factory and Associate Professor in the School of Chemical Sciences. Professor Penny Brothers receives $935,000 for research measuring pH with an RFID chip. “I am extremely proud of the quality of the research ...

Fee hikes restrict student choices
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
A survey of 5000 students from across the tertiary sector shows that tuition fees have increased at the maximum level permitted. Fees are constraining students' choices more than ever before. Although tuition fees are only permitted to increase 4% per ...

Passionate Māori educator welcomed to the Bay 

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic welcomed new Director Education & Māori Development, Kieran Hewitson, to the senior leadership team.

NZUSA 'Not Achieved' on Cost of Student Debt 

Responding to NZUSA President Daniel Haines’ claim the cost to taxpayers of forgiving student debt is only $8 billion, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Ben Craven says.

Unitec supports push to get students into engineering 

Representatives from Unitec and MIT joined the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Steven Joyce, at the Auckland launch of the Engineering - Education to Employment (E2E) initiative at the Well-Connected Alliance in Mt Roskill this ...

International students to benefit from airport extension

International students are set to benefit from the planned runway extension proposed for Wellington Airport.

Wednesday 10 September 2014

$3m upgrade for Ngaio School

Nikki Kaye | Education
Ngaio Primary School will receive a major property upgrade worth almost $3.3 million, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says. “I am very pleased that an agreement has been reached with the Ngaio School Board to undertake several much-needed upgrades concurrently. “We are also using this opportunity to provide some exciting new learning spaces for the students that will assist in the delivery of the curriculum. Bundling the work into one project will help to reduce disruption to the students and staff.” ...

Charter schools planning expansion

Radio New Zealand
A Ministry of Education spokesperson said by the middle of this year, only two partnership schools - South Auckland Middle School and Whangarei's Terenga Paraoa - had exceeded their guaranteed minimum roll. The other three were being funded at their ...

Education Minister responds to questions on charter schools.

We are joined by the Education Minister Hekia Parata.

Education sector discuss merits of Charter schools 

Education sector leaders say New Zealand does not need more charter schools, and they're questioning why struggling charters schools are being kept open.

Partnership school expansion plans worry critics

New figures show most charter schools have failed to meet their minimum enrolment targets.

Charter school crisis shows time to axe costly experiment

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“It is alarming that Education Minister Hekia Parata is now considering applications for further charter schools. “What is even more concerning is that National's potential coalition partner ACT – in the unlikely event it is returned to Parliament ...

Scrap charter schools, Labour says

MSN NZ News
Labour is calling for charter schools to be scrapped following a report that one established in Northland was dysfunctional from the start. Documents released under the Official Information Act show Te Kura ki Whangaruru school was beset with staff ...

Greens promise lift to special ed services

The Green Party would boost special education services in schools by $115 million if in government, doubling the number of children who can access the highest levels of support, it announced today.Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei...

Parties lay out vision for higher education

The popularity of courses such as gender studies is a sign that the university needs an overhaul, the Act Party says.The Reason and Science Society Tertiary Education Debate at the University of Auckland tonight saw political parties...

Parata claims state schools send kids to jail

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Hekia Parata's claim on Radio NZ's Morning Report this morning that vulnerable kids attending state schools are more likely to end up in jail is an absolute indictment on her own performance as Minister and the policies of the current National ...

Staff 'dissatisfaction' behind school's call for help

Stuff.co.nz
It related to "time consuming" procedural issues like contracts, appraisals, teaching programmes, appointment processes and allocations to classrooms, Turnbull said. Ministry head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said statutory ...

Out-of-zone boundaries set in stone

Two controversial new school zones are now in place.

Hutt Valley faces truancy problem

Stuff.co.nz
"We have a plethora of kids who never darken a classroom's door. "I feel there are a lot of kids missing out, either because they never make it to school, or they make it to school but it all becomes too hard. We do need some resourcing to deal with ...

Hora Hora School

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
"Pat Newman of Tai Tokerau Principals' Federation claimed today on Radio New Zealand that he wanted the same funding model and freedoms as apply to Partnership Schools. I totally support him although I am surprised a former Labour Candidate would ...

Tuesday 9 September 2014

Ministry documents reveal problems at charter school 

A leading Northland principal says a charter school near Russell was dysfunctional from day one - and has needed micro-managing by the Ministry of Education, to prop it up.

Charter kura costs 'obscenely high': Northland principal

Critics of a charter school near Russell are describing the costs needed to run it as 'obscenely high,' and say the money would be better spent elsewhere.

Charter School Shambles Show Government's Failing Experiment

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
"There is no valid educational reason why charter schools should exist. They have been set up to privatise our public education system through the backdoor. "New Zealand children deserve better than this. They deserve to be taught by qualified teachers ...

Greens’ special needs education plans will benefit children

The Green Party’s plans to provide more support for children with special needs targets education investment to where its needed, says NZEI Te Riu Roa National President Judith Nowotarski.

Greens to make major funding boost to special education

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The Green Party today announced a major $115 million a year package of support for special education services in schools, including a doubling of the number of children who can access the highest levels of support and more help for pre-school children.
Greens promise special education boost

National's fiscals reveal big cuts to health and education

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“National's fiscals confirm the Green Party's and BERL's independent analysis that there will be sizeable cuts to health and education services,” Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today. “National will be cutting the education and health budgets ...

Education protests a Labour stunt - Key

3News NZ
Education protests by primary teachers around the country have been dismissed by National as a Labour stunt. But the teachers' union, NZEI, says the $359 million being spent on professional development for teachers and principals won't improve outcomes ...

Parents need to take 'foot off the pedal'

Outspoken on education and democracy in Christchurch, Bronwyn Hayward is a voice to reckon with, Beck Eleven writes.

'Calming' lessons going ahead despite outrage 

Riversdale School in Northern Southland has decided to introduce a controversial calming technique for its pupils, despite fierce opposition from some parents.

Maori boys' lives thrust into limelight

New Zealand Herald
13-year-old Jazz is the subject of a documentary filmed at Hastings Boys' High School over a year, which will be screening tonight. A documentary following the story of four Maori boys, a passionate principal and local education success will put ...

Childchat app assists with early education

Techday NZ
A new app entering the market is making speech, language and communication development in children a lot easier to understand. The Childchat app was created by Kristi Rabbitt, a third-year student of speech and language therapy at the University of ...

Popular schools run out of spaces

Stuff.co.nz
Canterbury schools back to pre-earthquake roll levels are turning away out-of-zone pupils, while some in the city's hardest hit areas are courting them to fill gaps. Schools have started filling rolls for next year, with some like Banks Avenue School ...

21st century spin on admin

Stuff.co.nz
For students, features include access to daily notices, NCEA calendar and canteen menu. One feature, Vocational Pathway, helps students plan next year's courses based on their career goals. Students can choose their career pathway from a pull down list ...

Huge disruption to kiwi girls' schooling from endometriosis

An advocacy group is warning that undiagnosed endometriosis is causing huge disruption to the education of some girls who have it. Endometriosis New Zealand is calling for better education of GPs, and more widespread programmes in schools to teach about the condition. Deborah Bush is the chief executive of Endometriosis New Zealand.

Linwood College to get statutory manager

Stuff.co.nz
Our commitment as a board, is towards enhancing the achievement of all students at the college.'' The board had also ''engaged an external person to survey both the staff and the parent community'', and they could expect to be contacted within the next ...

Monday 8 September 2014

Primary schools go head to head

Stuff.co.nz
"It sounds to me like a numbers game." Wylie, a New Zealand Council for Educational Research's chief researcher, said a national survey of 180 primary and intermediate principals found that 59 per cent felt they were in direct competition with nearby ...

Maori Party reveal education policy

New Zealand Herald
Pukeroa Oruawhata Kohanga Reo head kaiako (teacher) Jocelyn Callaghan said the increase would be good for Maori families. "With the extra free hours more Maori families will get into some form of early childhood education and hopefully that will be ...

Education major issue for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti voters

Māori Television
Funding is also an issue for Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Whānau Whānui in Tolaga Bay, and despite the benefit of 20 hours free ECE, that too has its difficulties. Ngoi Pewhairangi says although kōhanga is one of the oldest Māori education institutes, it's ...

National pledges special education funding

Stuff.co.nz
Leader John Key and education spokeswoman Hekia Parata announced the party's education policy in New Plymouth this morning. They were also promoting the $359 million 'Investing in Educational Success' package announced earlier this year. It comes ...

Teachers protest Govt's education plan
National will build on its strong progress in education

Primary teachers hit streets

Stuff.co.nz
Macindoe said NZEI was misrepresenting parts of the "really significant" policy. "The most important thing we can do is ensure that we have the best possible people in front of every classroom in the country," he said.

Teachers call for National's IES policy to be scrapped

Māori Television
Investing in educational success is the name of a flagship policy of the national government but 93% of principals and teachers nationwide have rejected it. Today they took the matter to MPs' offices across the country. The street outside Kelvin Davis ...

Shake-up of school interventions called

Schools want the government to pay more of the cost of the commissioners and managers they send to fix troubled schools.

Little progress in tackling 'flawed' literacy plan

3News NZ
The Ministry of Education's head of student achievement, Dr Graham Stoop, admits the Government needs to do more to improve overall literacy rates. He says the ministry is currently working with Professor Chapman and his colleagues to trial various ...

NZ pupils struggling to speak

Fewer children starting school can speak in sentences, prompting an investigation by education chiefs.Primary schools around the country have noted a decline in the spoken-language abilities of new entrants and the Ministry of Education...

Schools under the microscope

New Zealand's education system has long been rated among the world's best.But a fall in international league tables has seen a bout of introspection from those in charge of how exactly we teach the country's 760,000 school students.Education...

Election 2014: Future of charter schools debated

Another National government may introduce more charter schools to maintain diversity, but Labour says it would scrap them altogether.The announcements were made by Education Minister Hekia Parata and Labour's education spokesman...

Teachers oppose incentive plan

Taranaki Daily News
The Government's multi-million dollar education plan would be better spent more sensibly than on hiring top-tiered managers, a New Plymouth principal says. Paul Johnson, of Tikorangi School, was among 60 supporters who took part in the nationwide NZEI ...

Parata needs to listen, say protesting teachers 

Teachers are turning up the heat on the education minister in protest against the Government's flagship education policy.

Educators push for better plan

Marlborough Express
The union's "better plan" promotes smaller classes, 100 per cent qualified early childhood education teachers and more funding for special needs, as well as reviewing support staff funding and support initiatives for Maori and Pasifika students. Labour ...

Q+A: Hekia Parata & Chris Hipkins

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
PARATA you can't have that argument both ways – that there is no consistency and that it is all completely standardised, actually NZ runs the highest trust model of this kind in the western world. ... CORIN ok Charter Schools – you would stop them? Why?

Teachers stand up for kids rather than pay packets

Thousands of primary teachers, principals and supporters have rallied at MPs' offices around New Zealand today to reject the government's Investing in Educational Success policy and push for A Better Plan.

schools go beyond learning

Stuff.co.nz
They can go out and play after, but this school has time set aside to eat as a group first. You cannot help a child if you don't witness their need.Schools are turning to trusts and charities for help sustaining their young because many are arriving ...

Don't Let ACT Wreck Our Education System

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
A single ACT MP brought in charter schools in 2011 and 2014 ACT Epsom electorate candidate David Seymour has boasted about his involvement in the policy and has committed to expanding it, she said. “PPTA welcomes good education policy from ...

Uni looks to young innovators

A multimillion-dollar business growth fund is set to begin investing in ambitious companies through a crowdfunding initiative.Using the newly launched crowdfunding platform Snowball Effect, the University of Auckland Business School...

Minister attends homebased educators’ conference

The Minister of Education, Hon Hekia Parata, is attending the New Zealand Homebased ECE Association Conference in Wellington on Friday September 5.

Nature is the Classroom for Playcentre Children

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Nature is the Classroom for Playcentre Children. Karori Playcentre's older children enjoy a special session each week that takes them out to Wellington's beaches, parks and reserves. Known as 'Tamariki Nui', the session is for a small group of children ...

PPTA Running Desperate Campaign Against Partnership Schools

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
"We know that the children going to the five partnership schools are thrilled with the advantages they get from these schools. I believe every child should be able to access a good school, but currently New Zealand is failing its most vulnerable students.

Future looks bright with new learning platform

Techday NZ
“The ePortfolio mobile app will help our students capture evidence of their learning, as many of them spend quite a lot of time out in the workplace as part of their studies,” said Germany. “Students will be able to showcase achievements and milestones ...

Auckland private school in damage control

3News NZ
With a polished reputation and a proud history, St Cuthbert's College is in damage control mode. The senior football team's antics this week while on tour in Rotorua have cost the coach his job. It was a striptease by one of the girls in full view of ...
Coach stood down after girl's strip