Wednesday 28 January 2015

NZnews is taking a short break and will be back on Monday 2 February 2015.

Steven Joyce defends student visas

Listening to that was the Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce.

Winston Peters criticises foreign student numbers

New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters has criticised the number of foreign students choosing to study here, saying it is likely due to incentives such as permanent residency.Mr Peters said there were 93,000 overseas students enrolled...

Reo opportunities for all kids called for

New Zealand Herald
BICULTURAL: Children should be given the opportunity to learn te reo Maori, New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa president Louise Green says. PHOTO/SUPPLIED. All New Zealand children should have the opportunity to learn te reo Maori, the ...

School charges no fees

Back-to-school costs are a hot topic for many parents as schools begin to reopen this week and next.

Silence in class as teachers lose voices

NZ City
They found female teachers were more at risk than their male colleagues and said voice education was vital for women entering the profession. "Most teachers did not received any formal vocal education, either during teacher training or after qualifying...

Parental engagement, not real estate, is key to student success

Auckland parents who want the best education for their children would be better investing in time and support for their child’s learning instead of fretting over real estate, says NZEI Te Riu Roa National President Louise Green.

High debt scares off Victoria University prospects

Stuff.co.nz
Fresh data on student loans and allowances released by Statistics NZ yesterday showed there were 416,415 tertiary enrolments in 2013 - a fall of 3462 on the previous year. The number of students who turned to loans to pay for their study reduced from ...

Graduates chase better pay and careers options overseas

A Massey University survey has found students are searching for bigger pay packets overseas, with some Palmerston North youth planning to take off as soon as they complete their courses.

Staying at school progresses outdoor passion and future

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
They focus on providing more choices for young New Zealanders and giving them greater opportunities to develop their knowledge, skills and talents through trades, technology and services programmes that are jointly provided by schools and tertiary ...

Education to tackle primary industries skills shortage

Scoop.co.nz
Two students were sent his way for one day a week of on-site training to complement their LBS studies in the classroom. The Primary Industry Training Organisation (ITO) assists with the LBS curriculum. Musa Maphosa was one of these students, and ...

New Takanini school to ease pressure

Auckland stuff.co.nz
In the 14 years she has been principal, her school has grown from 250 students to 450 and 12 new classrooms have been built since 2011. Kelly says it's great to finally have progress on a new school because the original consultation for it was in 2007.

Brother knighted for education work

NZ Catholic
Brother Sir Patrick, who has been with the NZ Catholic Education Office for the last 21 years and has worked in the education sector since 1976, said it is also a recognition that the Catholic education system has come of age after 40 years of integration.

26-27 January 2015

Minister welcomes beginning of school year

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata has wished Kiwi kids well as they begin heading back to school on Monday. “Whether starting a new school or returning to a school they already know, a New Year presents exciting possibilities for our kids. There’s an opportunity for new skills, new friends and trying out a new sport or club,” says Ms Parata. ...

Children head back to school

More than 10,000 five-year-olds head off to class for the first time as New Zealand schools open for the New Year from today.

Opportunity to learn te reo Māori critical for success

All New Zealand children should have the opportunity to learn te reo Māori, NZEI Te Riu Roa says. NZEI Te Riu Roa President Louise Green says the New Zealanders of the future will need to be more bi-cultural and multi-cultural, not less.

NZEI calls for reo resources

waateanews.com
That means investing more in initial teacher education, ongoing professional development, employing more resource teachers of Maori, upskilling current educators and ensuring there is wider whanau and adult learning opportunities available. She says as ...

Teachers want more Te Reo support

school to teach on pa model

Stuff.co.nz
A special character Maori school opening this term in Christchurch will show that it takes a village to raise a child. Te Pa o Rakaihautu, a state-designated character school, will offer education founded on tikanga and Te Reo Maori in a pa-based ...

Principals sceptical over 'free' education costs

3News NZ
New Zealand's so-called free education now costs $37,000 over the course of a child's schooling, according to a new report that surveyed 1000 Kiwi parents. So is it time to stop calling public education free? High school student Anneke Hutt has already ...

ASG targets parents not just saving for kids' schooling

Stuff.co.nz
Last week, ASG's annual estimate of the real cost of "free" state education revealed that parents will have to stump up over $40,000 for the likes of school donations, uniforms, stationery, computers and trips during the 14-year state schooling of a child.

Free education costs thousands: survey

NZ City
The ASG Planning for Education Index also estimates it's about $1976 a year at primary school level. It estimates parents of a child starting a state primary school in 2015 will pay $34,000 for their child's schooling by the time he or she finishes ...

Future Auckland: From school to the shop floor

New Zealand Herald
2 The large number of Aucklanders aged 15 to 24 not involved in education, employment or training. At the end of September, 24,200 Aucklanders fell into this category, figures from Statistics New Zealand showed. For Maori and Pacific Islanders, the ...

Government cuts driving increased education costs

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Government cuts to education are forcing more of the burden on to parents and damaging the education of poorer kids, as the cost of primary and secondary education increases by five times the cost of inflation, the Green Party says. Statistics New ...

Auckland educators want special treatment 

Educators in Auckland are calling for special treatment from the Government, because Wellington-based bureaucrats don't understand their needs.

Revealed: Cost of buying in Auckland's top school zones

Parents could save hundreds of thousands of dollars by forgoing properties in elite Auckland school zones then privately educating their children with the money saved by buying elsewhere, new data reveals.As thousands of children...

Beware computer extras, students told

Parents have been warned about buying unnecessary add-ons as retailers take advantage of the requirement of many schools for students to have a laptop or tablet.So-called "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) policies have added hundreds...

Library book cuts hit schools hard

Stuff.co.nz
Michelle Simms, library manager at Hamilton's Te Totara Primary School, said these "reading for pleasure" loans would require extra administration, and "if a book is really good, all schools would want it. Would National Library buy thousands of copies?".

'No more school pools to close'

Stuff.co.nz
Bainesse is one of 27 schools across the country with a pool which has been identified by Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) as at risk of being closed, meaning the loss of a vital resource that helps keep Kiwi kids safe in the water. And WSNZ believes ...

Parents racking up debt for school iPads 

Some parents are being pushed into debt as a result of increased demands to shell out for digital devices for their children's schoolwork.As students prepare for the new school year, increasing numbers of them are being asked to...

Peter Lyons: Charter schools all about freedom of choice

I struggle with the lack of understanding about basic economic principles in our school staff rooms. Most teachers and their unions don't seem to understand the rationale behind charter schools.They are about freedom of choice for...

International students flocking back

International student numbers have bounced back after years of decline, driving the value of the country's fifth largest export industry to $2.85 billion, says a report by Education New Zealand.The number of international students...

Tertiary Institute Success Set Students up for Success

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
18 year old Denno Veratau is pursuing his life goal to become a qualified carpenter like his Granddad and puts his impressive academic success down to studying with the Wellington Trades Academy. Denno who lives in Khandallah Wellington was one of 82 ...

Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens: New Name, new organisation

The new kindergarten association covering much of the lower North Island has been officially launched under a new name, He Whānau Manaaki o Tararua Free Kindergarten Association Inc, or Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens for short.

Friday 23 January 2015

Minister responds to parent engagement report

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata says the Government has accepted the 18 recommendations of the Education and Science Select Committee’s inquiry into engaging parents in their children’s education. The Government’s response to the inquiry report, which highlights the important role that parents play in the educational success of their children, was presented to the House of Representatives today. ...

2015 school infrastructure spend $650 million 

Nikki Kaye | Education
Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says 2015 will see major school property developments as the Government invests around $650 million in maintaining, modernising and replacing buildings and infrastructure. “A number of new schools will open in the next few weeks, and this year will see a continuation of the major redevelopment of existing schools,” says Ms Kaye. The new schools include Ormiston Primary School in Flat Bush, Auckland; Endeavour School in Flagstaff, Hamilton; and Shotover Primary School, near Queenstown. ...

Minister approves new Takanini school

Hekia Parata | EducationEducation 

Minister Hekia Parata today announced that $20 million has been set aside for the establishment of a new primary school in Takanini, Auckland. Takanini is a fast-growing suburb and anticipated population growth is expected to generate approximately 4000 additional pupils by 2020. Ms Parata says Takanini is a sought-after area because of special housing and private land development and there is a need to cater to the booming school-aged population. ...

Cost of 'free' education $35,000 or more a child

The cost of a "free" state education for a child starting school this year will be almost $35,000, according to a new report.The peer-reviewed Planning for Education Index was compiled from a survey of more than 1000 members of...

School costs pile up

Stuff.co.nz
Parents struggling with back-to-school costs were shocked to find $500 laptop computers added to compulsory stationery lists. Research has shown that parents of Kiwi children born this year will spend more than $37,000 on a full state education ...

Families face rising cost of education

3News NZ
A new study finds families face a growing financial burden, thanks to the rising cost of education. State education can cost up to $37,676 for a child over the age of 13, while private and state integrated schooling costs upwards of $90,000. Chief ...

New Zealand Families To Spend Up To $630,000 On Education

New Zealand families [1] could spend up to $630,000 on their children’s education, according to the ASG Planning for Education Index released today.

Intermediate school teachers plan 'student-created curriculum'

Stuff.co.nz
Rutherford and Wilson will be "team teaching" a class of about 40 pupils this year, sharing a modern learning space that includes a large classroom, break-out quarters and a kitchenette. The pair have plans to take their sessions outside the classroom ...

Student Loans and Allowances: 2013 – tables 

Student Loans and Allowances covers students who accessed the student support system (the Student Loan Scheme and the Student Allowances Scheme) while participating in tertiary education. See Student Loans and Allowances: 2013 – tables on our website ...

University students pushed further into debt

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Students have become significantly poorer since National took office according to recently released data, the Green Party said today. The Student Loan and Allowances: 2013 data released today by Statistics New Zealand shows that there have been ...

Rise in tertiary fees outstrips living allowance

The rising cost of tertiary fees is reflected in the latest student loan borrowings figures released yesterday by Statistics New Zealand.The average amount borrowed for the course fee component of the loan has increased 22.5 per...

Shelley Bridgeman: For or against school uniforms?

Back-to-school season means it's time for parents to fork out for new school uniforms. The value of uniforms has been hotly debated since at least since I was wearing the blue tunic required by Hastings Girls' High. Wearing a uniform...

Parenting with Diane Levy 

Diane Levy is a family therapist, mother of three, and author of two books. She discusses preparing for going back to school.

Decrease in international secondary students to Manawatu

Stuff.co.nz
However, Palmerston North's international education professionals say the educational offerings were still attracting students to the city and enrolment numbers were rising this year. Awatapu College director of international education Mary Cherian ...

Meeting called for troubled students

The Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology's student union, Saniti, is working closely with aggrieved students from India and Nepal, its president Scott Tambisari has confirmed.

Pasifika success story

In their final year at school, twins, Nanumea and Te Pine Foua were St Patrick’s College students fast on their way to success. They achieved tertiary level credits while still at secondary school. And Te Pine has secured a plumbing apprenticeship ...

New south Auckland school to cater for pupil boom

3News NZ
Ms Parata says the new school, which will not be a charter school and will open in 2017, will "ease the pressure" other schools would face because of the boom. Nominations are being sought for the school's establishment board from local colleges...

Wednesday 21 January 2015

International education now worth $2.85 billion

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
International education continues to be a star performer in New Zealand’s export-led growth according to latest data, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says. The International Education Snapshot report released today shows that the international education industry grew strongly throughout 2014 and it is now valued at $2.85 billion. “As further proof of the industry’s strong performance, it is now supporting more than 30,000 jobs in New Zealand,” says Mr Joyce. ...

Govt launches new App to help students choose a career path

Students wanting a job with a fat paycheck and good prospects should consider a career in civil engineering, software development or accountancy and steer clear of acting and hospitality.

Survey: Students lack enough life skills for business 

Young people lack life skills but are technically savvy.

Time to revisit government-funded food in schools

Auckland stuff.co.nz
OPINION: The school year approaches, with its slate of costs - uniforms and stationery, activity fees and sports fees and the rest. Most families will absorb all of these comfortably enough, but some simply won't be able to. Hundreds will, as The ...

Māori focused CoRE one step closer

Scoop.co.nz
In Budget 2014, the Government committed $5 million each year for five years from 2016 for a Māori CoRE. The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) is responsible for making the final funding decision to select the Māori CoRE. Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga ...
Nga Pae o te Maramatanga advances in Maori CoRE Funding Round

Inequality for kids learning to swim - NZEI

3News NZ
... few of our students were able to access private swimming lessons," she says. Water Safety NZ chief executive Matt Claridge says the organisation is supportive of any initiative to get kids in the water because "you can't learn basic aquatics in the ...

Tuesday 20 January 2015

Programme inspires young people to achieve

Nikki Kaye | Youth
Youth Minister Nikki Kaye says 100 young people have been selected to take part in this year’s Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, which kicks off in Auckland next week. “This week-long programme is about fostering and celebrating the achievements of young people living in Auckland, who are facing and successfully managing challenges in their lives,” says Ms Kaye. “During the week, everyone involved will get to take part in a range of workshops and activities. ...

Teaching tech to the teachers

Stuff.co.nz
Teachers and curricula are being exposed as under skilled and unprepared, and schools complain they get little Ministry of Education support to teach programming. What makes this especially troubling is that the digital technology industry is New ...

Rose Patterson: Govt silent on failing charter school

One of New Zealand's first charter schools is failing, abysmally, and the Ministry of Education must stop dodging questions.Last year, the first batch of five brave pioneer charter schools began operations. Four received excellent...

Variety Kiwi Kids has waiting list of 200 children for class basics 

More than 200 new children have joined a sponsorship waiting list as they face a school year without the basics.

Exercise sharpens young minds: research

NZ City
News | Education. 20 Jan 2015 12:51. | hotmail | yahoo mail | gmail | news | weather | finance | shopping | about nzcity |. NZCity News. NZCity Calculator · Return to NZCity ... 20 Jan: Govt needs to fund school pools: NZ First. 19 Jan: Missing ...

Why my Pakeha child goes to Kohanga Reo

Stuff.co.nz (blog)
Quite possibly she could grow up to be like this without having attended Kohanga Reo, but I suppose it is me trying to make extra sure. I guess I am hoping that by sending her to a daycare (Te Kohao O Te Ngira Kohanga Reo at the Kirikiriroa Marae ...

Foreign student surge a challenge

Stuff.co.nz
"We try to keep what I call our own ceiling, our own maximum on the numbers of students we bring to the area." Gray said there were expectations from the Government that tertiary institutions would increase international student numbers but "we are to ...

Campaign aims to double Wellington's international student numbers by 2023

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Vice Chancellor of Victoria University Grant Guilford said “International education is critical to Wellington's social, cultural and economic future and it is great to see the commitment of our regions educational providers to work together for the ...

NCEA results give students opportunity

With the recent release of NCEA results, Waiariki Institute of Technology region’s students are now better prepared to make their decisions as to what their career pathways will be.

Second chance for NCEA teens

Thousands of teenagers across the Bay of Plenty breathed a sigh of relief with NCEA results being released last week. For many of these teens it’s the first step towards bright and rewarding careers.

A day in the life of... a Playcentre parent

As far as picking a day-in-the-life of Talia Goodger goes it's seemingly a poor one: a wet morning with 23 preschoolers at Balmoral's Playcentre. But expectation of toddler-grade cabin-fever is misplaced.Some kids do head inside...

Student dreams soured by false promises

Tertiary students from India and Nepal say they have been lured to Nelson with false promises of easy work and a great life, only to face a depressing struggle to pay their way and keep up their studies.

Principal despairs at rotting school

A PORIRUA principal has had enough of the leaky, rotting buildings her staff and students are working in and says a multimillion-dollar rebuild is urgently needed.

Graduates find jobs in diverse drilling industry

Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s drilling training programme is celebrating another successful year, with 100% of 2014 graduates snapped up by employers across the lucrative New Zealand industry.

TEU leader wants to defend democracy

Scoop.co.nz
Today prolific democracy campaigner and Victoria University academic Dr Sandra Grey takes up her position as president of the 10,000 strong Tertiary Education Union (TEU). ... Sandra Grey will be supported at TEU by three vice-presidents, Cat Pause, a...

VUW academic becomes new leader of Tertiary Education Union

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Sandra Grey will be supported at TEU by three vice-presidents, Cat Pause, a Human Development Senior Lecturer and Fat Studies researcher at Massey University, James Houkāmau, an Academic Support Coordinator for Māori students at Whitireia NZ and ...

Inzone Education Foundation at Epsom Grammar

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Epsom Girls Grammar School is getting set to welcome 16 new Maori and Pacifika students from throughout the North Island for the start of the new school year thanks to the INZONE Education Foundation establishing a new home Te Kainga Huarahi for the ...

Friday 16 January 2015

End-of-Year process positive for Novopay

Steven Joyce | Novopay
Minister Responsible for Novopay, Steven Joyce, is encouraged by latest figures that show the error rate for the schools payroll is continuing to reduce. Mr Joyce today released the reports on complaints and notifications for Pay Periods 20 and 21 which, together with Pay Period 19, are known as the “end-of-year” period. ...

Hayo Reinders: Goodbye classroom, education's new era doesn't need you

It is a cliche to say that technology is having a major impact on our lives.However, many elements of higher education seem oblivious to these changes.Although there are significant opportunities to make education better and more...

Study questions answered at uni information sessions

Ever thought about studying but didn’t know where to start? Not sure whether computer science or English literature is your thing? With the University of Waikato’s March intake just around the corner, now is the time to look into it.

Review of first Massive Open Online Course in NZ

Will Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) change the face of tertiary education in the future and what can Digital Cities, locally focussed online networks, mean for the local economy? These are just two of the subjects to be discussed later this ...

Thursday 15 January 2015

Results are in: Students hit web for NCEA scores

It didn't take Rahui Mosby's family long to learn about her outstanding NCEA results."Mum was looking over my shoulder," said the 15-year-old student from One Tree Hill College in Auckland. "I think she was even prouder than I was."Rahui...

exam results thrill for students

Stuff.co.nz
Her father, Andrew Gunn, said he was "coming to grips" with the NCEA process, but "you can't argue with the marks". "This first year, my advice was just work as hard as you can and we'll see how it goes." Marked exam papers will be returned to students ...

NCEA Level 3 exam booklets won't be returned digitally

Stuff.co.nz
New Zealand Qualifications Authority deputy chief executive of assessment Richard Thornton said the intention had been to deliver NCEA level 3 booklets online for the first time this year but the cost of scanning had been prohibitive. "It's just too ...

Wait over for Waikato students as NCEA results released

Waikato teens rushed to their computers, not for YouTube or Facebook, but to see the results of their past year at school.

Sisters share anticipation, celebration over exam results 

A pair of Palmerston North sisters who have clocked up more than 10 years of secondary school study and six years of sitting exams now feel twice the relief it's all over.

Evolve buys up Blenheim preschools

Two Blenheim preschools have changed hands and are now run by NZX-listed company Evolve Education Group.

Kids wrongly labelled as disruptive, audiologist says

A leading audiologist says children are being wrongly labelled as disruptive and badly behaved because they can't hear instructions in the modern classroom.

Wednesday 14 January 2015

Students NCEA exam results go live today

After a long wait, most high school students will be finding themselves face to face with their year's work as NCEA exam results are published today.Students will be able to log into the NZQA website and see their results from today.NZQA...

Online NCEA exam return scheme too costly

Plans to return students' NCEA level 3 exam booklets digitally this year have been scrapped because it's too expensive. =

A new way of learning

Auckland stuff.co.nz
TEACHING TEAM: Endeavour's staff are now based at the school, setting up flexiblelearning places. Pictured standing from left are deputy principals Michelle Ryan and Leo Spaans and principal Marcus Freke. The new teaching staff are seated.

Kohanga reo ready to open

Stuff.co.nz
A long-awaited kohanga reo will be opening in Highbury this month - the next step in the Palmerston North suburb's efforts to foster families' education opportunities. The community has been granted a licence by the Ministry of Education to open its ...

Duo developing social science success at Victoria

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Professor Overton says there are a number of debates about education policy in the Pacific Islands and other developing regions. “It's seen as a double-edged sword—education is an effective means for promoting development within the region, yet it...

Tuesday 13 January 2015

ONZM for University of Waikato Programme Director

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Before taking up her position at Waikato in October last year, Ms Baker spent 14 years as Director and CEO of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) in Wellington. NZCER is an independent, statutory education research and ...

Caretakers must pay after Novopay stuff-up

Two former caretakers of a Balclutha high school have to reimburse thousands of dollars of holiday pay they received erroneously from Novopay, the Employment Relations Authority has determined.

Size of Christchurch's new schools to be boosted

Stuff.co.nz
The Education Ministry has increased the capacity of two yet-to-be-built Christchurch secondary schools to match projected growth in their areas. A new year 1 to 13 community campus in Aranui and a secondary school in Rolleston, scheduled to open in ...

Male preschool teachers in short supply 

Marlborough's Tom Campbell, Michael Clark, Jonathon Morrow and Ed Parker are a scarce national resource.

$1.4m for VUW professors' research into education policies and fair trade

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Professor Overton says there are a number of debates about education policy in the Pacific Islands and other developing regions. “It's seen as a double-edged sword —education is an effective means for promoting development within the region, yet it ...

Waiata Mai Series: First of its Kind

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The involvement of kaupapa Maori driven kura like Te Ao Marama Kohanga Reo, Te Paroa Kohanga Reo and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Orini ki Ngāti Awa has also been fantastic and an affirmation we are on the right path in our pursuit of learning and ...

Degree aims to fill ‘big data’ skills shortage

Massey University is launching New Zealand’s first business-focused analytics degree next month to address the skills shortage in analysing ‘big data’.

Pupils raise $380 for missions

NZ Catholic
Fr Matthew said he was reminded of the power of classroom prayer by an elderly Union minister who went to a Catholic school. The minister remembered his school days as a place of peace and spiritual formation through prayer at the school and that ...

Monday 12 January 2015

Deborah Morris-Travers: Kids should top Key's New Year resolutions

New Zealand Herald
They are the 40,000 kids living with chronic poverty-related illnesses, who see the inside of hospital more often than a kindergarten or kohanga reo. They are the babies who are five times more likely to die before they turn one and 10 times more ...

More than $174K for Māori science and engineering students 

In 2014, more than $174,000 in scholarships was awarded to Māori Science and Engineering students from the University of Waikato.

Scholarship up to $3k for Maori

Northern Advocate
Established by the Maori Soldiers Trust Act 1957, the scholarship was set up to promote and support higher education amongst Maori. Five Northlanders have been awarded the scholarship in previous years with one Whangarei woman receiving $2000.

Waiata Mai Series: First of its Kind

TangataWhenua.com: Maori News & Views
“It has also been awesome to have had the support and involvement of kaupapa Maori driven kura like Te Ao Marama Kohanga Reo, Te Paroa Kohanga Reo and Te Orini ki Ngati Awa Kura Kaupapa; the affirmation of our reo speaking community provides us ...

Monolingual Kiwis a risk to the economy

New Zealand Herald
The Ministry of Education's Pacific Education Plan only mentions Pacific languages as a way to bridge Pasifika children into higher levels of English proficiency. "Instead the education system should be aiming to consolidate and extend these children's ...

For sale: one uniform to dress them all

A new, generic school uniform range is being touted as a way to help parents reduce the cost of kids going back to class.Postie's new unbranded Schoolzone range goes on sale tomorrow throughout the country, with a range of T-shirts,...

Gender Agenda In Schools Needs To Be Rejected

Family First NZ is rejecting calls for “gender” issues to be taught in schools and says that students with gender dissatisfaction should be treated and cared for on a case-by-case basis by families in conjunction with professionals and the school.

Sabbatical reports recently added

Sabbatical reports added in December 2014 look at...

Local School Goes From Strength to Strength

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The New Zealand Singing School Trust has run 28 schools for singers from throughout New Zealand with recognisable talent. The calibre of the school is now attracting students from Australia also. “The strength of our School is the excellence of our ...

7-8 January 2015

'Urgent education' needed to stop queer bullying

Stuff.co.nz
When I was young there was no narrative to even discuss how I might identify. I was almost a teen before I heard the word transvestite and I began to seriously question my actual gender, but from a very early age, I knew I was different. There was ...

More than 70000 injured at NZ schools last year

Stuff.co.nz
The 17-year-old badly sprained her ankle after tripping on some uneven concrete outside a classroom. "It was pretty hard getting up the stairs to classrooms with crutches." Canterbury Primary Principals' Association president Rob Callaghan said schools ...

Jamie Whyte: Profit-seeking and preschools go together

On these pages late last year, Linda Mitchell, an education lecturer at Waikato University, lamented the role of profit-making companies, such as Evolve Education, in providing preschool education.She claimed the quest for profits...

Technology a must-have for one in three students

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is a school initiative and Warehouse Stationery provides great technology support in store with unbiased advice on the right device for all ages. Warehouse Stationery Merchandise Manager, Tony Kingston said: “We have a ...

'My life will be wasted if I don't teach'

Manawatu Standard
She started her first year with a double major in education and cultural studies and has three years to go until she can become a qualified teacher. ... Her long-term goal is to specialise in teaching Maori and working with low socioeconomic communities.

Education Ministry faces smaller bill for leaky schools

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The accounts for its New Zealand unit, James Hardie NZ Holdings, showed a current provision of $10.2 million and a non-current provision of $5.6 million as at June 30, 2014, compared to $17.4 million and $19.7 million a year earlier, though it's ...
Ministry lowers leaky building costs

Local School Goes From Strength to Strength

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The New Zealand Singing School Trust has run 28 schools for singers from throughout New Zealand with recognisable talent. The calibre of the school is now attracting students from Australia also. “The strength of our School is the excellence of our ...

Tuesday 6 January 2015

Peter Lyons: If quality teachers vie for roles, education wins

There is a dark secret in education that is seldom acknowledged: There is no perfect system of student assessment. All systems from examinations to internal assessment to norm-referenced to standards-based assessment are inherently...

Sexual misconduct increases in schools

Stuff.co.nz
School leaders are blaming social media and a lack of parental supervision for the increasing numbers of primary school children being stood down from school for sexual misconduct. Stand-downs for sexual misconduct in primary schools rose 31 per cent ...

Demolition of historic school building delayed

Stuff.co.nz
The final demolition of one of New Plymouth's historic buildings has been delayed by asbestos issues. The scheduled work at New Plymouth Boys' High School's Carrington House was supposed to start yesterday but has been pushed back until later in the ...

New Year's Honours for Massey staff and alumni

Massey News (press release)
Professor Hermansson completed a Diploma of Education, Master of Arts and Doctorate at Massey University. He then became a Professor as well as the director of Sport Sciences. Professor Hermansson has ... He has been instrumental in creating ...

Local School Goes From Strength to Strength

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The New Zealand Singing School Trust has run 28 schools for singers from throughout New Zealand with recognisable talent. The calibre of the school is now attracting students from Australia also. “The strength of our School is the excellence of our ...

Monday 5 January 2015

Minister congratulates NY honours recipients

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata has congratulated the New Zealanders who have received New Year Honours for their services to education. Ms Parata says committed and passionate people are working in education throughout the country, and it’s wonderful to see some of the very best honoured. “I congratulate the 2015 recipients for their immense contribution to education in New Zealand and internationally. ...

Keep up with reading over summer, kids told

Parents are being urged to encourage their children to read over the summer in light of research showing kids who forgo books while on holiday lose reading ability at alarming rates.The loss in reading and learning levels over the...

Maori arts degree comes to NorthTec

Northern Advocate
Ms Te Waru-Rewiri said the course was a koha from Te Wananga O Aotearoa, a Maori-focused tertiary education provider. "They got in touch with me about putting the programme further north and acknowledged NorthTec would be that tertiary centre of ...

Well Deserved Recognition for Advocate of Play

The New Zealand Playcentre Federation congratulates Beverley Morris, QSO on her appointment as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to early childhood education. Beverley has been a passionate member of Playcentre since the early 1950’s, ...

Eastland Group tertiary engineering scholarship winners

Engineering students Briar Thomas and Sam Godwin are the 2015 recipients of Eastland Group’s Tertiary Study Scholarships.