Wednesday 1 April 2015

Educator: 'Childcare takes place of parents'

An early childhood educator says many people are losing confidence in how to be parents because they now see their role as going back to paid work as soon as possible after having a baby.Dr Sarah Farquhar, a former chief executive...

Piddly rise slammed by students

Scoop.co.nz
The national student union is slamming tomorrow's 90 cent increase to student allowances and living cost loan payments as an April fool's joke in the face of runaway cost of living increases. “This piddly increase doesn't even go halfway in paying for ...

How not to talk to your children 

Carol Dweck is a Stanford University psychologist specialising in what motivates people and she says telling kids they're "smart" is one of the worst things people can do. Professor Dweck's research shows that reinforcing the idea to students that they've achieved something because they worked hard means they are more likely to try harder and perform better.

Classrooms around New Zealand go digital with Chromebooks

Educators NZ
The digital classroom initiative aims to give children from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to have access to learning resources available on the internet and to learn anywhere, any time and at any pace. The focus of the initiative is the ...

Exciting Rangatahi About the Potential of Science

MEDIA RELEASE: EMBARGOED UNTIL 9am, Wednesday 1 April 2015 . Two Te Reo Māori land and water based science resources are being launched today at a special event hosted by Māori language secondary school, Te Wharekura o Mauao. The science resources, ...

Trainee doctors face uncertain future

New Zealand Doctor Online
AMA President Associate Professor Brian Owler said the results showed that the medical colleges were performing well in most areas of vocational training, which was gratifying given recent rapid growth in the number of trainees coming through the system.

30-31 March 2015

Minister delighted with calibre of nominations

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata says she is delighted with the high number and calibre of people nominated for the new teacher professional body, EDUCANZ (Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand). Nominations for the nine member council closed last week, with 145 names put forward. “I am thrilled that we’ve had such strong interest and that it has come from across the country and all parts of the education sector. We’ve also had people nominated with a broad range of other experience, including in governance and business. ...

Reflections on ISTP 2014

Hekia Parata | Education
Tēnā koutou katoa and warm Pacific greetings. It is my great privilege to speak to you all at this fifth International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2015 here in Banff, Alberta, Canada. ...

Minister to attend fifth annual ISTP

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata will be departing for Canada today to attend the fifth International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) accompanied by teachers, professionals and union leaders. The Council of Ministers of Education Canada, the Learning Partnership, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Education International are welcoming education ministers, union leaders and teaching experts from countries with high-performing education systems to Banff on March 29 for the two day summit. ...

Teaching jobs on the rise

Teachers looking for a job should head to Wellington, according to Seek's latest Labour Market Report.New job ads in the Education and Training industry were up 18 per cent year-on-year to February 2015 - driven by a 45 per cent...

Dress to impress, teachers told

Teachers have been told to pull their socks up when it comes to their dress code.In a checklist sent out to all schools, New Zealand School Trustees' Association (NZSTA) president Lorraine Kerr has told teachers to leave their frumpy...

Maori principals critical of education policy

Radio New Zealand
Te Akatea New Zealand Māori Principals is also against it, with president Robert Clarke saying he believes the plan has many drawbacks. "For us it's a top-down imposed model. It reeks of that super model just being dropped on a cluster of schools and ...

Educators report student poaching to NZQA and Immigration NZ

A group of tertiary institutions say its members are losing hundreds of students a year because cut-price organisations are poaching them.

New recruitment programme impresses young Māori

Massey News (press release)
“I wanted to make sure that the initiative created for the participants a strong sense of what its like to study here, and create a Massey whānau for them before they enrol, if that is what they decide to do, and showcase some of the positive Māori ...

Another burden off students' backs

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“The union has typically lobbied as though students never graduate. They consistently argue for subsidies and price controls that will lower the quality of education while whacking taxpaying graduates. This is likely because many student politicians ...

Funding boost for inmate education

Stuff.co.nz
The funding is provided by the Tertiary Education Commission - responsible for dishing out tax dollars for tertiary education in New Zealand. TEC chief executive Tim Fowler said the funding would be spread across a range of qualifications from ...

When one child's rules are different than the others

Stuff.co.nz
I missed the sweet days at the train table, and it was odd to see my little darling running around a classroom trying to get the "bad guys." It happened around the same time his behavior issues began to get worse. Or his toddler behavior, as I ...

Teachers flock to Innovation Fund

Scoop.co.nz
NZEI Te Riu Roa past President Judith Nowotarski said there was a real hunger for flexible professional development and support for teachers, especially since National Standards was introduced in 2010. Since then, most professional development funding ...

Far North low-decile schools ditch traditional teaching

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Paihia School, Kawakawa School and Northland College are joining a group of low-decile schools leading the introduction of 'digital classrooms'. The initiative, led by the Kaikohekohe Educational Trust, seeks to improve academic results and reduce truancy.

Challenges to school boards' decisions rare

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“Parents' expectations of schools and school boards are high, and they expect the school to have rules in place to protect students, ensure the school is a safe environment, deal with unacceptable behaviour by students, and generally maintain the ...

Pioneering digital education lab for Wellington region

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“To better educate our children, we need to help empower teachers, supporting them to use new technology, online learning tools and problem solving activities to transform their classrooms, their schools and their communities," says Frances Valintine ...

New Era scoops Microsoft Education Partner of the Year award

ChannelLife NZ
Microsoft has acknowledged New Era as a key channel partner in the New Zealand education sector by awarding them 'Microsoft Education Partner of the Year – 2015'. The education market is picking up in New Zealand, and Microsoft as well as its partners ...

Online early childhood survey released

Stuff.co.nz
The ministry was particularly interested in hearing from educators in early childhood, people involved in initial teacher education and professional development and education sector organisations, he said. The survey focuses on knowledge and practical ...

Education top of class with employment opportunities on rise

Scoop.co.nz
The Education and Training industry is coming out top of the class with employment opportunities showing strong year on year growth, according to SEEK's latest Labour Market Report. Nationally, new job ads in the industry increased 18 per cent year on ...

Litigious Approach to School Discipline Worrying Trend

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Family First is warning that a litigious approach to school disciplinary decisions will undermine the authority and special character of individual schools and has the potential to send some schools bankrupt. The comments come in response to two recent ...

Kerre McIvor: Parents do sons no favours 

As a parent, you want your child to know you've got their back, especially when they become teenagers. They need to know they can always rely on their parents to guide them to safety.As parents, we have to hope the foundation blocks...

Online early childhood survey released

Stuff.co.nz
The ministry was particularly interested in hearing from educators in early childhood, people involved in initial teacher education and professional development and education sector organisations, he said. The survey focuses on knowledge and practical ...

Kidicorp, a leading ECE provider to go non-profit

The country's leading early childhood education provider, Kidicorp Limited will today announce its new status as a not-for-profit charity and will change their name to Best Start.Tauranga locals Chloe and Wayne Wright founded the...

National's changes leave student bodies in chaos

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The chaos created by National's scrapping of compulsory student association membership may force the 86-year old Union of Students Association to fold, Labour's Tertiary Education spokesperson David Cunliffe says. “National's 2011 Voluntary Student ...

International Democratic Education Conference for Nelson

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Conference Director Birgit Baader said the conference would bring together educational leaders and change-makers from over 20 countries. “There are more and more schools, teachers, parents and students who feel it's time for a move away from the ...

Redcliff School faces possible closure

3News NZ
The Government has begun a consultation process with the board of trustees of Redcliffs School in Christchurch about its possible closure. The school is currently based at a temporary location at the Van Asch Deaf Education Centre in Sumner, due to ...

Redcliffs School closure plan wrong

Secondary schools paddle to glory at Waka Ama championships

Scoop.co.nz
Waka Ama racing enjoys surge in popularity with 95 schools competing at the New Zealand Post-backed national secondary school championships. Rotorua's Blue Lake last week transformed into a sea of colour and noise as New Zealand's top secondary ...

City students schooled in rural jobs

Stuff.co.nz
"I want to become a head shepherd on a station, then a farm manager, and I would love to own my own farm if possible," the Aotea College student says. At a Get Ahead careers ... Funded by Dairy NZ and Beef+Lamb NZ, the programme, now in its fourth year ...

Thursday 26 March 2015

High number of teachers apply for $10m fund

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the more than 200 applications for the first round of the $10 million Teacher-led Innovation Fund. The new fund is part of the government’s $359 million Investing in Educational Success Initiative and provides funding for teachers to develop innovative ideas to be put into practice and shared across schools. ...

The three best and worst ways to modify a child’s behavior

How do you get your child to change the way they behave? Nathan Mikaere-Wallis is the Director of X-Factor Education, and discusses what the research tells us are the best and worst ways to go about this. He's formerly a board member of the Brainwave Trust, and has been a lecturer at the Christchurch College of Education, lecturing in human development, brain development, language and communication, risk and resilience.

Racism at Auckland University tackled in project

You're pretty smart for a Tongan, eh?

Māori and Pacific University unite against racism

Māori Television
"Learning to cope with every day racism in kind of modern forms of colonialism was something that helped them succeed in higher education," says Mayeda. Te Rarawa and Ngāti Kahu descendant Chloe Manga who is in her final year of studying a Bachelors ...

Teachers' union criticises fee for police vetting

Passing the cost of police vetting on to school communities will only increase inequity and the vulnerability of children, says the president of the secondary school teachers' union.

Mai Chen: St Bede's decision raises questions

The case of St Bede's College students, Jordan Kennedy and Jack Bell, breaching the Civil Aviation Rules while on a school rowing trip raises the following questions:Can schools still discipline their students if they misbehave?...

N4L reaches 500000 school users on Managed Network

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Northland's rural Broadwood Area School is one of many schools which has found success using the Managed Network to fast track its digital learning plans. Since connecting to the Managed Network six months ago, Principal Pani Hauraki says a whole new ...

N4L finalists for two Hi-Tech Awards

N4L (Network for Learning) has been named a finalist for two categories in the New Zealand’s Hi-Tech Awards.

Staff, students fight for elected places on university councils 

University students and staff are fighting a rear-guard action to retain elected places on university councils.

Never too old to finish your studies

New Zealand Herald
She's also recommending it to others, especially Maori. "Now it's all about education. Ieducate everyone - 'come on, you've got to stay at school'. "Because of me being at school, my daughter has gone back to school. She's doing nursing at Wintec and ...

Strong early childhood participation levels in Southland

The Southland Times
The Ministry's Education Early Learning Regional report for March says that Otago and Southland have a higher then average rate of participation in early childhoodeducation. The national average for participation sits at 95.9 per cent, in Southland ...

Mai Chen: St Bede's decision raises questions

The case of St Bede's College students, Jordan Kennedy and Jack Bell, breaching the Civil Aviation Rules while on a school rowing trip raises the following questions:Can schools still discipline their students if they misbehave?...

Are you guilty of doing your child's homework?

Stuff.co.nz
And I saw it a lot when grading papers in my daughters' elementary schoolclassrooms. I'd say that at least a quarter of them had been written by adults. When I pointed it out to the teachers, they always shrugged their shoulders and said the parents ...

TEU and ITF debate apprentice report 

Tertiary Update Vol 18 No 8 A Ministry of Education report suggests industry training delivered apprenticeships are cheaper and more effective than managed apprenticeships delivered through polytechnics and institutes of technology. The Industry Training Federation (ITF) is welcoming the report but TEU says it has taken a narrow view of industry training and ignores the … 

Continue readingTEU and ITF debate apprentice report →Leaving high school

The Nelson Mail
While McMenamin believed the "major scandal" was the system's failure to meet the needs of Maori and Pasifika children, a range of new policies and programmes had started to make a difference. He was also pleased with the links NPBHS had developed ...

Encouraging more primary school children to ride bikes – with council money

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The Wellington City Council is aiming to encourage primary school children to ride bikes by becoming the first local body to fully fund and manage Bikes in Schoolsprojects at three Wellington schools. This will put more than 1300 students each year in ...

Schoolkids to get taste of great outdoors

The Motueka Rudolf Steiner School has bought its dream site for a new school campus by knocking on the door of the former owner.

principal calls time on 61-year career

Stuff.co.nz
Brought up in Invercargill, Sutton's love of teaching was sparked at the age of 12 when she helped out her former new entrant teacher in the classroom. She recalled getting the strap often for talking and said that was proof that punishment did nothing ...

Secondary school art gets showcase opportunity

Secondary school art from Waikato / Coromandel and Newmarket in Auckland are being exhibited in readiness for auction and judging.

Teacher aides suspended over drugs

An Auckland primary school has suspended two teacher aides after they were snapped exchanging cannabis in the staff room.But the school says the pair will keep their jobs and officials are yet to contact police, raising Ministry...

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Everyone loses with St Bede's case – expert

3News NZ
Dr Gallivan has slammed the court's decision as "ridiculous", saying the school'sauthority had been undermined following an "utterly reasonable" decision. "Schools are not there merely to teach in the old words of reading, writing and arithmetic, but...

School's authority undermined

Stuff.co.nz
School trustees worried then that the case would encourage other students and their parents to take schools to court. School boards would have to review and tighten rules and regulations and principals would be uneasy about making tough decisions.

Editorial: Schools need more leeway from the law

Common sense, they say, is a large part of the law but it seems to desert courts when they are invited to overrule school discipline. Last Friday a Christchurch secondary school, St Bede's College, took drastic action against two...

College board backs principal over misbehaving rowers

The board of trustees at Christchurch's St Bede's College has voted unanimously to back the school's principal over his decision to send two students home from the Maadi cup rowing regatta.

Funds for education success go to educationally successful

Scoop.co.nz
“It is now clear the 'education for success' is a policy to keep National and ACT voters in Epsom and Remuera happy, rather than to lift the educational achievement in our poorer communities” says John Minto, QPEC spokesperson. “The glaring anomaly is ...

N4L partners with NZQA

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
NZQA Deputy Chief Executive, Richard Thornton adds that this option is likely to be favoured by educators who are already familiar with using online resources and digital devices in their classroom. “The aim is to reduce the amount of time and cost ...

Redcliffs School closure brings parents near to tears

Stuff.co.nz
We'd certainly need more classrooms." Redcliffs School was forced from its site after the June 2011 aftershocks when rockfall from a cliff backing on to the property threatened safety. Since August 2011 the school has been based at a temporary location ...

Students get hands-on agricultural experience

High school students got a peek at the jobs they could go for in the agricultural industry during an education open day near Palmerston North.

Universities of Waikato, California to deepen ties

The chair of UC Regents, the board that governs the University of California, is to sign an agreement with the University of Waikato to widen collaboration between the two.

Bikes in Schools Gets Funding Boost From ACC

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Bikes in Schools provides safe, accessible and replicable cycling environments for primary school children throughout New Zealand. Bikes in Schools was started in 2010 by charitable trust 'Bike On', which helps schools secure funding to provide bikes...

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Consultation initiated over Redcliffs School 

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata has begun consultation with the Board of Trustees of Redcliffs School in Christchurch about the possible closure of the school because of concerns about the long-term safety of the Redcliffs site. ...

Youth in isolated communities benefit from fund

Nikki Kaye | Youth

Youth Minister Nikki Kaye is pleased to announce the first round of initiatives funded under the $20,000 Isolated Communities Fund. “This is about supporting the development of young people aged 12 to 24 living in offshore communities such as Great Barrier Island, the Chatham Islands and Stewart Island. “It’s not always easy for young people living in these communities to access the same opportunities as their peers on the mainland. ...

Redcliffs School may close over safety concerns

Christchurch's Redcliffs School could be shut down because of concerns about the long term safety of the site.

Minister says school closure not cost cutting 

The Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, is insisting a proposal to close Christchurch's Redcliffs Primary School is not a cost cutting measure.

PPTA confirms boycott of teacher body 

Members of the secondary school teachers' union have endorsed its plan to boycott nominations for the new teacher registration body, the Education Council.

Angela Roberts: Catch-up time for teachers' pay

It's time for the Government to pick up the slack around teacher salaries, writes president of the Post-Primary Teachers Association Angela Roberts.

St Bede's board to hold urgent meeting 

St Bede's College board is due to meet today to discuss an interim High Court injunction preventing the school from sending home two errant rowers from a national rowing competition.

Secondary Principals disquiet over St Bede's case 

St Bede's College in Christchurch told two boys they couldn't compete in the Maadi Cup rowing regatta after they breached aviation security and rode on the baggage carrier at Auckland airport. But the boys' parents took the matter to the High Court, which granted an interim injunction which allowed the boys to compete yesterday. Tom Parsons is the President of the Secondary School Principals' Association, and Jol Bates, Hawkes Bay lawyer who represented the St John's College schoolboy Lucan Battison, who refused to cut his hair.

Did St Bede's College treat rowers fairly?

St Bede's College in Christchurch told two boys they couldn't compete in the Maadi Cup rowing regatta after they breached aviation security and rode on the baggage carrier at Auckland airport. But the boys' parents took the matter to the High Court, which granted an interim injunction which allowed the boys to compete yesterday.

Court win for banned students

Two Christchurch college students have today won a legal battle to row with their school's Maadi Cup rowing team.St Bede's College students Jordan Kennedy and Jack Bell were chucked off the rowing team after breaching Auckland Airport...

How can data and statistics help your whanau, hapu, iwi? 

TangataWhenua.com: Maori News & Views
One recent report stated that Maori in general trust the police and health system more than other institutions. A 2013 survey of Maori well-being, showed police and health are the top-rated institutions by Maori, closely followed by the courts and ...

Prison education needs internet - academic

A convicted murderer who completed Bachelor and Masters degrees while in prison says inmates who want to study should be allowed access to the internet.

Why taking your kids out of school for a holiday is OK

Stuff.co.nz
The NSW Department of Education thinks you shouldn't, introducing new guidelines that penalise parents for taking students on 'unjustified' leave. In other places, such as Britain, it's a finable offence that could potentially lead to jail. In New ...

Nearly 200 complain about CAMI education software

3News NZ
Just fewer than 200 families have now contacted Campbell Live saying their concern for their children's education has been exploited by a company selling education software and promising great results for their kids. CAMI educational software program, ...

Top students prepare for graduation

Hawke's Bay Today
Friday morning's ceremony encompasses graduates in early childhood education, applied social sciences, visual arts and design, screen production and Maori. Nursing, health science and recreation and sport graduands will be conferred with their ...

Hawaiian manuhiri aim to share and gain knowledge in education summit

Māori Television
Tommorrow it is also expected that up to 2,000 primarily Māori and Pasifika students from Manaiakalani School Cluster will put on a display of traditional Māori elements such as a Waiata Tira, a Mihi, Korero and a Hangi for the Hokule'a crew members ...

Montessori preschool to open next month

A four-bedroom 1960s town house in the heart of Palmerston North is being transformed into a modern montessori.

Wide-ranging and effective contributions by students 

A four-year academic audit report has commended the University of Canterbury on wide-ranging and effective contributions made by students to the university’s planning, reviews, academic activity and services.

Microsoft NZ kicks off 'Week of Code'

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
AUCKLAND, 23 March 2015 – Microsoft New Zealand and the High Tech Youth Network are joining forces this week to encourage young people across the country to learn some basic skills in computer programming as part of Microsoft's international 'Week of ...

Regional Ministerial Cross-Sector Forum Meetings 2015

The summary records for the Regional Forum meetings held in the regions in 2015.

Monday 23 March 2015

New $3.1m block opens at St Thomas’s School

Nikki Kaye | Education
Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye was delighted to open a new 12 classroom block at St Thomas’s School in Kohimarama, Auckland this afternoon. “In February last year I announced a $3 million project to replace old classrooms and create more learning space at St Thomas’s School, and it is great to be here with local MP Simon O’Connor, just over twelve months later to officially open the new building. ...

Dyslexia Foundation say low-decile schools missing out

Low-decile schools need more help in applying for exam assistance for students with disabilities, the Dyslexia Foundation says.

Insight for 22 March 2015 - Overseas Students - Boom or Bubble?

John Gerritsen investigates the rise in overseas student numbers and the opportunities and risks.

Value, beliefs curriculum launched for Maori immersion schools

Stuff.co.nz
The national body representing Maori immersion schools, Te Runanga Nui o Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori o Aotearoa, and the Ministry of Education have been developing a national curriculum for Maori medium schools for more than 30 years. Maori medium ...

Ministry settles legal action with kura

Radio New Zealand
The Ministry of Education has backed down after it was taken to court over its intervention in a Māori immersion school. Te Kura Kaupapa o Whangaroa. Photo: eCube Building Workshop Limited. The former board of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Whangaroa ...

Inequalities of IES exposed

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“Children need smaller classes for more one-on-one attention, more teacher aides for special needs, 100% qualified early childhood teachers and better resourcing of bi-lingual education for Maori and Pasifika. Highly paid “expert” teachers moving ...

Te Aro ready to fight decile change

Te Aro School is appealing the change to its decile rating that will see it lose $100,000 of funding in the next five years.

Northland Unitary Authority discussed during MP school visit

MP Paula Bennett has paid Dargaville High School students a visit, encouraging them to make the best of their lives.

pre-school volunteers

Stuff.co.nz
Pre-schools are children's introduction to communal learning and their success is often reliant on community support. On Monday, March 30, the Pelorus Community Pre-school will be holding its annual meeting and people with time to spare and skills to ...

Healthy Homes and food in schools bills

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Similarly, two bills designed to put food in schools were voted down. Aimed at providing breakfast and lunch to children in low decile schools, the bills sought to help children perform better at school, hopefully enabling them to break out of poverty ...

At home with: Boarders at Auckland's Dilworth School

Stuff.co.nz
At home with: Boarders at Auckland's Dilworth School.

Maths student bridges generation gap

3News NZ
One of them is 23-year-old maths student Rebecca Wood, who has been selected to represent New Zealand in the youth team at the Asia Pacific Championships. Later in the year she will also represent the country in the women's team at the Asia Pacific ...

18-20 March 2015

Prisoner learning places to nearly double Peseta 

Sam Lotu-Iiga | Corrections
A huge increase in prisoner education aims to help prisoners get jobs on release and reduce their risk of reoffending. Educational achievement is important to help prisoners take part in and benefit from employment, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes. “We know that prisoners who can hold down a job on release are far less likely to commit crimes. That’s good for them and their families and helps make our communities safer,” says Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga. ...

Is over-asssessment to blame for rising anxiety and stress

Anxiety and stress is on the rise among college students and over assessment by schools is being partially blamed. An Education Review Office report has found that over assessment for NCEA can put student welfare at risk. Wellington Girls College Principal Julia Davidson and Evaluation Services manager for the Education Review Office, Stephanie Greaney, discuss.

Food In Schools Bill Defeated

Scoop.co.nz
The Education (Breakfast and Lunch Programmes in Schools) Amendment Bill provides for the introduction of fully State funded breakfast and lunch programmes into all decile 1 and 2 schools and other designated schools. The meals will be available to all ...
'Feed the kids' bill defeated in Parliament

No to”one-size-fits-all” policy on food in schools – Caritas

NZ Catholic
Caritas' position is based on a small-scale research report it is currently conducting about the many different ways that Catholic schools are responding to hungry children at school. The qualitative survey of schools involved both online questions and ...

'Food In Schools' Fails To Address Real Issue

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Family First NZ says that attempts to feed children at school is well-intentioned but will be a short-term band-aid to mask the more serious issues of parental neglect, loan sharks, budgeting, and family breakdown. “A child whose parents cannot even ...

Greater educational needs for children with disabilities

NZEI Te Riu Roa backs the findings and recommendations of a new report that shows children with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty than other children.

Joyce asked how much tertiary staff worth

Tertiary Update Vol 18 No 7 Steven Joyce does not have an answer yet for how much he believes a good university tutor, university lecturer, senior university lecturer, polytechnic tutor, polytechnic lecturer, senior polytechnic lecturer, wānanga tutor, wānanga lecturer, and senior wānanga lecturer deserves to be paid. …

Campaign for democratic councils launches today

A nationwide campaign to get one-third of seats set aside for democratically elected staff and students on university and wānanga kicks off at Otago University today at a rally with the university's registry steps.

Students stand up for democratic universities 

Today the national student union NZUSA will be joining with the Tertiary Education Union to launch the two organisations’ campaign to maintain elected staff and student representatives on New Zealand’s eight university councils.

Labour backs return to university democracy

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“Steven Joyce's power grab by abolishing democracy on university councils was a chilling attack on universities' role as a critic and conscience in society. “It flies in the face of good governance principles, which should include representation of ...

$300000 funding boost to upgrade school technology infrastructure

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Between 2011 and 2013 DWC funded 31 West Coast primary schools $303,000 to upgrade wireless networks and purchase new classroom technology including computers, tablets and digital cameras. An independent review of the first year of the Computers ...

Vodafone's 'school in a box' offers education hope for refugees

Vodafone New Zealand is helping to boost education in refugee areas with the development of its instant classroom - a digital "school in a box".The instant classroom consists of a laptop and 25 tablets pre-loaded with educational...

Samsung offers education solutions for schools

Educators NZ
The solution makes classroom collaboration easier and more fun. Students are encouraged to actively engage in lessons through features such as screen-sharing, on-screen quizzes and digital handwriting using the S-pen. The intuitive management tools ...

Should teachers include porn in their sex ed lessons?

Stuff.co.nz
At 15, however, while I'd certainly have enjoyed watching a little porn, I most definitely wouldn't have wanted to do so in a classroom setting. I say this even with the anatomical advantage of being able to conceal arousal. Teenage boys already spend ...

Greater focus on upskilling boards of trustees 

One of NZSTA’s key goals in 2015 is to provide all boards of trustees with the opportunity to build on their governance capacity through participation in high quality professional development (PD) opportunities says Lorraine Kerr, President, NZ School ...

Vocational Pathways supports young people to qualifications 

Falling in love with school again Vocational Pathways, supporting young people to get the qualifications they need. Ezra Taulamana is a girl with a lot of love. She loves performance, dance, singing, drawing, painting, and art. She also has a lot ...

What should parents do if their child is bullied at school?

Stuff.co.nz
School authorities often recommend parents leave the school to handle it. This is fine if the school is successful in stopping the bullying. However, this is not always the case. Most school programs to address bullying make only modest improvements ...

School wants input into developments

Stuff.co.nz
Chairwoman Rachel Murdoch says it is essential schools have notice of developments that will cause their rolls to boom. An increase of primary school-aged children in the area would seriously impact on the school's current planning for building ...

Destiny Church school turned down for state integration 

Destiny Church's bid to make its private school part of the state system has failed.The church says the rejection is disappointing as its case was compelling and valid."We have other schools in New Zealand that are Christian-based...

Whangaruru charter school seeks new principal

Māori Television
This follows the principal and school manager being made redundant last night in line with criteria set last month by the Minister of Education Hekia Parata. It's business as usual at Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru following an announcement from the ...

New Plymouth achievers win Edmund Hillary scholarships 

Sporting efforts by two former New Plymouth high school students are paying dividends – both have won a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship to attend university.

Striking balance key as Waikato University ponders new rules 

The University of Waikato is pondering how to shrink its governing body in line with reforms, while balancing size with representation of relevant groups.

Massey University's 10ha Hokowhitu campus is being sold by international ...

Interest.co.nz
Massey University is selling its 10ha Hokowhitu Campus in Palmerston North through an international tender process. The site includes a mix of office and educational buildings, a marae and sporting facilities. The existing buildings provide 30,000 ...

Tuesday 17 March 2015

New resource for teaching maths in Te Reo

Radio New Zealand
The book 'Mathematics and statistics in the middle years: Evidence and practice' has been published by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research and edited by Robin Averill, a Senior Lecturer in Victoria University of Wellington's School of ...

Another $138 million for Christchurch schools 

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye say almost $140m is to be spent on the next wave of schools to be repaired and rebuilt in Christchurch. Cabinet yesterday approved the expenditure of $138 million on Hornby High School, Kaiapoi High School, Banks Avenue School, Linwood College and Cashmere High School. Work at Hornby will begin in September and work on the other four schools will begin next year. ...

Christchurch schools to get $138m for earthquake repairs

The Government has approved $138 million funding for the next round of repairs of Christchurch schools.

Age, education puts Maori behind in self-employment

waateanews.com
Analysis of 2013 census data by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment found just 10 percent of Maori were self-employed, compared to 19.8 percent of non-Maori. This could be because Maori are relatively younger, with lower qualification ...

Minister reveals Government's lack of concern for quality teaching 

An admission by the Minister of Finance Bill English that teachers can expect a paltry pay rise this year despite the so-called rock star economy shows the Government's lack of commitment to quality teaching and learning, says NZEI National Secretary

Possible education changes for the Bay

New Zealand Herald
Both chairs said it was important for the Bay of Plenty's future to improve participation and success in tertiary education, particularly for Maori and Pasifika people and youth. The chairs said it was now time to look in detail at what options might ...

Teachers urged to turn students into 'data detectives'

Scoop.co.nz
The Ministry of Education and Statistics NZ are encouraging teachers to sign up to CensusAtSchool, an online statistics project that turns students into “data detectives”. Students aged 9 to ... The data will then be released for classroom analysis ...

Students Graduate with Diploma in Whanau Ora

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Following November's graduation where five students were presented with their Level 5 NZQA parchments, another six will graduate on Wednesday. They will be presented with their parchments by Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis, a former school teacher.

New classrooms for leaky Stokes Valley school

Stuff.co.nz
LIBRARY NO MORE: Koraunui School pupils, from left, Isabella Candy, 9, Sam Williamson, 10, Keira Flitchcroft, 10, Jason Scanlon, 10, Keiva Ralph, 10, Boston Doherty, 9, celebrate new beginnings at their school, starting with the destruction of their ...

Consolidation means Hokowhitu campus up for sale

Massey University's Hokowhitu campus has been put on the market.

$20,000 schools’ Environmental Curriculum Awards open

An annual $20,000 fund which helps fund and recognise Northland schools’ environmental education initiatives is up for grabs again.

Blend of Magic And Humour Impacts Bullying in Schools

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Now with Trustpower's support, who came on board in 2005 after watching him in action, this has grown into a nationwide school presentation, endorsed by hundreds of schools and reaching thousands of New Zealand school children annually. Trustpower...

Monday 16 March 2015

Forum committed to raising achievement

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata is today in Wellington holding the first meeting of this year’s Ministerial Cross-Sector Forum on Raising Achievement. Around 90 people, including representatives from early learning, primary and secondary schooling, tertiary, unions, business, iwi, and educational experts, have gathered to discuss raising achievement in education. Ms Parata, the Forum Chair, says New Zealand has a world-class education system but there are some children and young people who are not doing as well as they could be. ...

Speech to Ministerial Cross-Sector Forum on Raising Achievement

Hekia Parata | Education
Tēnā koutou katoa. Welcome everyone, to the first national cross-sector forum for 2015. We’re in for another exciting year in education with more opportunities for further outbreaks of achievement. Thank you for your contributions to that educational success and to the work we can do together to create more of it. I’d like to especially acknowledge a few people. ...

$5.2m upgrade for Tolaga Bay Area School 

Nikki Kaye | Education
Students at Tolaga Bay Area School, East Coast, are set to enjoy a $5.2 million classroom upgrade, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today. “New blocks will be built at the school, to replace four older buildings and classrooms that are no longer fit for purpose,” says Ms Kaye. “The new blocks will comprise 12 new learnings spaces, with ICT and wifi technology to enable learning in a digital age. ...

Dyslexic pupils thrive with school support

Stuff.co.nz
More than a third of schools given special assistance for pupils with dyslexia are in Canterbury, figures show. Although the region leads the way in providing support, advocates says huge inequalities remain between high and low decile schools.

'Systemic discrimination' in dyslexia support

Stuff.co.nz
More than a third of schools given special assistance for pupils with dyslexia are in Canterbury, figures show. Although the region leads the way in providing support, advocates says huge inequalities remain between high and low decile schools.

Govt criticised for special needs failures

3News NZ
It's a big achievement and a big surprise to some. "People are still shocked," she says. "They say, 'How do you have dyslexia and get the marks that you do?' Because I get that extra help." Healy gets a writer for exams. She says she can't spell. But ...

Students share their thoughts on bullying

New Zealand schoolchildren will share their thoughts on bullying in a nationwide survey that launches this week.

Good ERO reports for two charter schools 

Two more charter schools have been given positive reviews by the Education Review Office.

School on the brink: Inside a struggling charter school

The first glimpse of Te Pumanawa O Te Wairua is something of a shock. We have driven more than three hours in the sweltering heat from Auckland, through Whangarei, winding past paddocks of cows and horses, the billionaire's mansion...

Northland charter school removes managers

New Zealand Herald
Te Pumanawa O Te Wairua, a flagship charter school based in tiny Whangaruru, has a week before a specialist auditor is brought in to assess its progress following a warning last month from education minister Hekia Parata. Officials have advised the ...

$350K bonus for problem Northland schools

Northern Advocate
Ministry of Education head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said the fact two of the schools were in Northland was an acknowledgement of the challenges schools in the area faced in recruitment. Both Northland schools would benefit from a...

Democracy dying in pared tertiary councils

Stuff.co.nz
Lincoln University is proposing its council be made up of four members appointed by the Tertiary Education Minister, the Vice-Chancellor, one council-appointed permanent academic staff member, one student-elected member, one iwi-nominated Maori ...

11-13 March 2015

New book helps to de-mystify dyslexia

Massey News (press release)
Titled The New Zealand Dyslexia Handbook (NZCER Press) and co-written with Dr Susan Dymock, from Waikato University, the book sets out to demystify dyslexia by empowering parents and teachers “at a grassroots level” with practical tips and information. 

Steve McCabe: Teachers happy to follow MPs' lead 

The Remuneration Authority has done teachers a favour. The Secondary Teachers' Collective Agreement expires later this year, and our union, the Post-Primary Teachers' Association, is preparing our new pay claim. The authority made...

Video: John Key puts money where his mouth is on school lunches

3News NZ
In the 500 odd schools I've been to if 90 percent didn't have lunch I'd be pretty surprised because I've seen a lot of them munching their way through lots and lots of lunches," he said. He offered to take Ms Turei to a school of his choosing to test ...

Partnership on the road to success

New Zealand Herald
Having a school that is supported by the whole community will hopefully lead to improved engagement and success in education for the Maori students. Interestingly the minister went on to open another partnership school, for Pacific Islands children ...

Enterprise event creates future leaders

Auckland stuff.co.nz
A massive $612,000 will go towards supporting schools and teachers nationwide to grow business and enterprise education in the classroom. "Young people today are growing up in a complex, challenging and fast-changing world and it's important we help ...

Dairy families bring diversity to schools

Stuff.co.nz
Glenavy School has 18 English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) pupils from the Philippines, Fiji, Sri Lanka, China and Lithuania. All have links to dairying. Principal John Prescott said over the last few years transient students had made up a ...

Open a failed charter school and keep the farm

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“In fact charter schools could end up getting more money in the event they are closed early because the contracts allow them to claim committed costs. “In the case of Whangaruru they have bought an 81-hectare farm they will be able to keep if their ...

Student incubator 'needs financial support'

Stuff.co.nz
Financial support from Taranaki businesses to grow the next generation of entrepreneurs is needed, according to the co-ordinator of a scheme set up to encourage the region's students into the field. Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) Taranaki's co-ordinator ...

Waikato Institute of Technology strengthen connection with Kōhanga Reo

Māori Television
Students of the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training initiative at Waikato Institute of Technology are strengthening the connection with Te Kōhanga Reo o Tōku Māpihi Maurea. Gifting play grounds, tables and chairs to acknowledge the 30 years the kōhanga ...

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga launches Te Hononga Pūkenga 

On Wednesday 11th March, at an event celebrating the increasing influence of Indigenous scholarship in New Zealand, Te Hononga Pūkenga – The Māori & Indigenous Researcher Directory will be launched by the Minister for Māori Development, Hon. Te Ururoa ...

School extends 5-year-old's suspension

Stuff.co.nz
Fincher was unsure if she would send her son back to the school, saying she contacted the Education Ministry yesterday to ask if they had any other schools that would be better suited for him. "If the school doesn't have the funding to put people in ...

Early Education Council slams decision to let former P smuggler back into the classroom

A decision to allow a former P addict and convicted methamphetamine smuggler back into the classroom has been slammed by the Early Childhood Council, who fear parents may not be told about their teacher's shady past.Haley Carol...

Canterbury University's code of conduct a 'gag order'

Stuff.co.nz
An amended Canterbury University student code of conduct is seen as a "gag order" by some clubs. The university and its students' association began addressing equity and diversity on campus after an Engineering Society (Ensoc) RoUndie 500 event ...

Auckland, Lincoln universities reject one-third democracy

Tertiary Update Vol 18 No 6 Universities around the country are starting to make public their stance on how many staff and students should be on their university councils. The University of Auckland held meeting with staff this week where it is proposing a model of one academic staff member, one general staff member and …

Auckland Education & Skills CCO at Risk with Proposed Cuts

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“Our focus is improving education outcomes for the 1 in 5 young people who are not currently well-served by our education system, and now we are asking for some support too. We are encouraging those in the education and skills community to consider ...

New Chief Executive Appointed to WelTec and Whitireia

A new Chief Executive has been appointed for the Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) and Whitireia New Zealand. The Chair of the Combined Council of WelTec and Whitireia Hon Roger Sowry, today announced the appointment of Mr Chris Gosling to ...

Hamilton teacher stripped of registration

A former Fairfield College teacher has lost her licence to teach after a disciplinary hearing heard she had fiddled the grades of under-achieving pupils - the second time she'd faced a similar accusation.

Island as 'living classroom' for teacher workshop attendees

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Whangarei Harbour's Matakohe/Limestone Island is to become a 'living classroom' for 33 teachers from around Northland taking part in the Northland Regional Council's upcoming annual teacher workshop. Teachers from Far North, Whangarei and Kaipara ...

Ashburton College principal denies bullying culture

Stuff.co.nz
The woman, who did not want to be named because she feared it would make her daughter a target for bullies, said she was concerned that teachers felt powerless to address the blatant bullying that was happening in their classrooms. Her daughter arrived ...

Tuesday 10 March 2015

Kiwi teachers to learn about Japan's cutting-edge technology

Educators NZ
Eight New Zealand science and digital technology teachers are set to bring new found knowledge of Japan's technology into New Zealand classrooms after participating in a tour organised by the Asia New Zealand Foundation. The teachers will head to Japan ...

Hamilton teacher who unlawfully passed students banned from classroom

A Hamilton high school teacher who gave pass grades to students whose work had been assessed as "not achieved" has been banned from the classroom.It was the second time Maria Joan Bernadette Leyden had come before the Teacher's...

Cash to bring pupils into city

Christchurch schools are being offered financial assistance to bring school pupils back into the central city.

Far North low-decile schools ditch traditional teaching

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Paihia School, Kawakawa School and Northland College are joining a group of low-decile schools leading the introduction of 'digital classrooms'. The initiative, led by the Kaikohekohe Educational Trust, seeks to improve academic results and reduce truancy.

More support needed for teachers of sexuality education

Scoop.co.nz
New sexuality guidelines for schools are to be released shortly by the Ministry of Education. The University of Canterbury researchers have been investigating knowledge and attitudes of students enrolled in a new sexuality education course of the ...

EDUCANZ Welcomed by Trustee Organisation

Scoop.co.nz
The passing of the Education Amendment Bill that provides for the dissolution of the NZ teachers Council in favour of the new professional body for teachers, the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand (EDUCANZ), will be generally welcomed by ...

Emulex invests in Kiwi tertiary students

Educators NZ
Emulex Corporation, the provider of network solutions, is continuing to invest in New Zealand's education sector and develop its next generation of engineering talent by partnering with local universities. This investment is made possible in part by ...

Global leader in education speaking at University

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Dr Anthony (Tony) S. Bryk, a global leader in education research and one of America's most noted educational researchers, will give a public lecture at the University of Auckland's Faculty of Education next week. Dr Bryk is the ninth president of the ...

Monday 9 March 2015

Special needs funding squeeze 

Manawatu principals say more can be done to help schools struggling to support all their special needs students, despite a recent report heaping praise on educators' efforts.

Criticism over pass rate drop

Radio New Zealand
Education leaders are unhappy with the big drop in the number of Maori and Pasifika students getting University Entrance (UE). Only a third of last year's Maori and Pasifika Year 13 students got the qualification, down from half the previous year ...

Teenage pregnancies fall as exam results improve - study

Getting a good education could be the best form of contraception for teenagers, according to a new study.British researchers found that greater use of contraceptive implants and drugs had an almost statistically insignificant effect...

Engaging with Māori Learners: a survey to help shape how we access, share and build knowledge together

This survey is for New Zealand schools. By completing it you'll be assisting the Ministry of Education to consider how best to share online content with schools and their families, whānau, hapū and iwi communities, when relating to the vision of the Māori Education strategy Ka Hikitia – Accelerating Success 2013–2017, ‘Māori enjoying and achieving education success as Māori’.

Centres juggling long waiting lists

New Zealand Herald
Ministry of Education (MOE) figures show that in 2005 there were 108 early childcare providers in Tauranga City - including kindergartens, childcare centres, kohanga reo, playcentres and home-based carers - and 33 in the Western Bay. By the end of June ...

Educators combine for Active Minds

Stuff.co.nz
Active Minds director Erin Skelsey said the aim was to link passionate people from education institutes with children to try to extend the city's learning activities and educational environments. The not-for-profit charitable trust tested the concept ...

gaming could help school work

Stuff.co.nz
School students may benefit from some video gaming, a new OECD study suggests, although the finding may also reflect differences in time spent gaming by boys and girls. The association between video gaming and academic performance depended on the ...

Defence of charter schools laughable

The Dominion Post
Education secretary Peter Hughes refutes any notion of him playing politics (February 26) implied in your recent charter schools editorial (February 25). In mitigation that he is a public servant providing advice to implement the policies of the ...

New story – Values education and community partnership

The entire community of Pomaria School have worked together to identify and agree on a set of values that they believe are important. This film describes how the values were developed and how they are sustained. Schools can use the ideas in this film to support their own values teaching in response to the needs of their students and communities.

Students have say on sex education messages

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Researcher and nurse practitioner, Dr Karen Hoare, says the sex education leaflet, folded into a small square containing a condom and dubbed the 'teabag' was given to students in years 11 to 13 at two high schools in different areas of Auckland in 2012 ...

Rainbow youth targets for bullies

Shaun* assumes he will end up in hell.

Why I chose to homeschool our son who has Down syndrome

Stuff.co.nz
This past September we started home schooling. Before that our son, who has Down syndrome, attended public school in a regular classroom setting — often referred to as inclusion — at our request. After two years we realised school was hindering his ...

'Sustainable educational solutions' for Christchurch schools

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Derek Wenmoth, director and the NZ initiative's lead facilitator, says “The belief that providing structured and planned education systems help to build and support creative, happy and healthy individuals who will contribute later in life to the common ...

chasing debt offshore

Stuff.co.nz
Massey University Students Association president Linsey Higgins said getting the Australians to track borrowers had the potential to "strike a very punitive chord" in the context of other changes to the student loan scheme. "While we believe that all ...