Friday 31 July 2015

Aranui education vision takes shape 

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata today planted a mānuka tree at the Aranui Community School site to mark the official start of construction. The Year 1-13 co-educational school is located at the current Aranui High School site on Shortland Street in Christchurch. It will open in January 2017, following the closures of Aranui High School, Aranui School, Avondale School and Wainoni School. Ms Parata says that Aranui Community School will be the first of its kind in the Christchurch region. ...

Site purchased for Pt Chevalier Kindergarten and Community Education Hub
Nikki Kaye | Education

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced the site of a new Community Education Hub in Pt Chevalier, Auckland, which will incorporate the relocated Pt Chevalier Kindergarten. “The Ministry of Education has purchased land for $2.8 million at 90-94 Walmer Road in Pt Chevalier to house the new hub,” says Ms Kaye. “This is an innovative solution that will free up land at Pt Chevalier school, where the kindergarten is currently located, and provide much needed outdoor space for the school’s growing role. ...

Learning te reo 'needs to be compulsory in primary schools,' educator says
Stuff.co.nz
The ABC New Plymouth teacher has spent much of her 33 years immersed in the Maori culture and developing her knowledge of the language. And now she has 66 little sponges, ... Corbett's interest in learning te reo Maori began as a young, fresh-faced ...

Māori early learning centre pushing to expand
Radio New Zealand
A new Māori early learning centre in Queenstown is pushing to expand its opening hours and offer the community more Māori education. Rawinia Paringitai teaches Māori at Wakatipu High School, and says she opened Te Puna Ako O Tahuna because there ...

Students live, think in te reo at Te Rito: where English stops at the front gate
Stuff.co.nz
In the spirit of Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori, Fairfax reporter Joel Maxwell (Te Rarawa) has a go at interviewing in Maori at Otaki kura, Te Rito. Providing an answer, and language advice, is Manihera Tehei, 17. For Marara Metekingi, 17, the universal ...

Study finds use of Te Reo Māori increasing

Radio New Zealand
There's now an acceptance by New Zealanders more broadly around the value of Te Reo Māori, and that it's fundamentally part of New Zealand culture." Dr Kingi said if it hadn't been for initiatives such as kohanga reo, kura kaupapa and bilingual units ...

Helping to Keep Te Reo Māori AliveScoop.co.nz

Students encouraged to remember Passchendaele 

Craig Foss | Veterans’ Affairs

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss says a multi-media competition for year 13 students will help ensure the bravery and sacrifice of New Zealand troops during the Battle of Passchendaele is not forgotten. “The Battle of Passchendaele was one of New Zealand’s most deadly conflicts during World War I. Many of those killed were of a similar age to the students eligible for this competition,” Mr Foss says. ...

Taranaki principals hit back out at proposed Ministry of Education changes
Stuff.co.nz
The Ministry of Education has put forward a suite of proposed changes including the flexibility for schools to be able to run early childhood centres, the option to change school opening hours and the ability for principals to lead more than one school.
Govt considers Education Act changes3News NZ
Leaked document proposes changes to Education ActEducators NZ
Troubled school wanted $25000 dollars to fence farmScoop.co.nz (press release)

Students given timeouts at Wainuiomata High School for incorrect shoes
Stuff.co.nz
Wearing the wrong shoes at Wainuiomata High School can lead to a day out of theclassroom. Students at Wainuiomata High School are being removed from class and made to work in isolation if they are wearing the wrong shoes. One annoyed mother said ...

Thursday 30 July 2015

Trades Academies “overwhelmingly positive”
Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed a report showing that Trades Academies are delivering “overwhelmingly positive outcomes” for students. The report is from the Education Review Office which reviewed 15 of the 24 academies operating across New Zealand. The academies, introduced in 2011, are designed to increase retention rates, raise NCEA Level 2 achievement rates and smooth the transition from school to further education, training and work. ...

Hekia statement about charter school funding misleads
The taxpayer will pay a total of $839,400 in the second half of 2015 for the troubled Wairua charter school that would not have been payable if the Minister had closed the school at the end of the second term.

Million dollar website for Ministry of Education
Educators NZ
The Ministry of Education has consolidated its three major education websites into the education.govt.nz site, launched in June, at a cost of $1.2 million. The new website replaces the ministry's three main websites, minedu.govt.nz, lead.ece.govt.nz...

Māori Language Week: School opens door to te reo early
Year 2 students at Glenfield's Mānuka Primary School are still learning to read and write in English - but they are already learning te reo Māori too. They learn with actions rather than writing."Whaea says ki runga [Aunty..

Learning country's native language is good manners, teacher saysStuff.co.nz
Nowadays, Hunneyball teaches drama at Sacred Heart Girls' College where she uses her classroom as a platform to promote the language. The walls are decked out with kupu Maori (Maori words) and she tries to integrate phrases into her daily lessons..

Speaking te reo 'an advantage'

Stuff.co.nz
I followed a teacher that I liked in to her classroom even though I wasn't supposed to be in that class. I never left. That class was known as one of the first bi-lingual classes in New Zealand at the time. The popularity of the scheme in the small ...

Computer coding could join education's 'three Rs' under Labour plan
Stuff.co.nz
Children could soon be learning computer coding alongside reading, writing, and arithmetic, as part of the Labour Party's education plan. The party releases its technology paper Future of Work on Thursday which, after feedback, will help form its...

Graduates say their livelihoods haven't improved
Earlier this week a survey has revealed the number of students in financial distress has more than doubled since 2012.

No investigation over school's cash withdrawals
Staff who withdrew $4000 in cash from a school's account and failed to explain what they spent it on will not be investigated, the ministry of education says.A financial audit of Te Pumanawa o te Wairua, a struggling Northland charter...

Graduates say their livelihoods haven't improved 

Earlier this week a survey has revealed the number of students in financial distress has more than doubled since 2012.

Greater transparency needed over major school change proposals
NZEI says the Government needs to be more transparent over its school reform proposals. National President Louise Green says it is concerning that the Government is looking at far reaching reforms before it’s had a discussion with schools and their...

High schools struggle to fill roles – PPTA
3News NZ
There may be an oversupply of primary teachers, but that isn't helping high schools fill roles. Despite New Zealand Educational Institute's claims that schools are being swamped by beginner teachers, high schools are struggling to recruit new staff ...

New "Mindfulness" Classes At Rangi Ruru Girls' School 

"Impressive" and "positive". Two words Bridgitte Newberry uses to describe the new classes her daughter has experienced over the last two years.

Canterbury leads the way with innovative University Council 

The University of Canterbury Council will lead the way in reducing the size of its governing body – from 20 members to 12, following the gazetting of a new constitution. The change will take effect on 1 August.

Blenheim colleges still in the dark
The Ministry of Education has yet to make a decision on the future of Blenheim's colleges, a Marlborough principal says.

Life's a beach at Otago Uni - voted one of world's best beachside universities
Surf's up for the University of Otago, named one of the world's best beachside universities.

Wednesday 29 July 2015

Multi-million dollar classrooms opened at Ngaio School, Wellington
Nikki Kaye | Education

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye visited Ngaio School in Wellington this morning to formally open a block of eight new teaching spaces. “The new block is part of a $3.3 million upgrade, aimed at addressing a growing roll as well as weather-tightness issues in some buildings,” says Ms Kaye. “I’d like to acknowledge the community for their patience while the upgrade has been carried out, and in particular the school’s leadership for the way they’ve engaged with this project. ...

Hekia and biased promotion of charter school NCEA results
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
During Oral Question time in Parliament Hekia promoted the NCEA results of one of her charter schools, Te Kura Hourua o Whangarei Terenga Paraoa, using the school's recently released annual report to the public. The school had ... is on...

Secondary principals react to govt plans 

The president of the Secondary Principals Association, Sandy Pasley, says small schools could benefit from a government plan to let a principal run more than one school.

Greater transparency needed over major school changes
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“The Government has already seen how its policies fail when it tries to implement major change before convincing parents and school communities. “It needs to remember the lessons learned over its increased class size debacle and its lack of ...

Te Reo a learning experience for teachers, students

Stuff.co.nz
This is the second year Room 6, the bilingual unit, has created innovative ways to encourage te reo Maori in the playground and classroom. Walden said alongside encourage the use of language, the children have been involved in learning traditional...

Low number of students using te reo at Manawatu tertiary institutes
Manawatu Standard
Poutu teaches at Palmerston North's Te Kohanga Reo o Mana Tamariki, and has also worked as a television presenter, Maori language consultant and media producer. She said because Maori was her first language, it made sense to submit her thesis in te ...

Minister throws good money after bad 

NZEI Te Riu Roa is appalled that the Whangaruru charter school has the green light to continue operating and even been given up to $129,000 to implement its remedial plan. NZEI National Secretary Paul Goulter said Minister Parata’s argument that close...

Government proposes one principal to run several schools
Waikato Times
The Government is considering giving schools discretionary power to decide their opening hours, and putting one principal in charge of several schools. The proposals were contained in a document given to unions, principals and education sector ...

Urgent action needed on teacher oversupply crisis | Scoop News
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
"Many new teachers are now employed on day to day or short term relieving jobs where they don't get the professional development, skills and mentoring required to help them become great classroom practitioners. "So the long term consequences for...

Want a teaching job? Look outside of the city and move to the regions
Unwanted teachers should look further afield than Auckland and consider finding work in the regions, their Taranaki counterparts say.

Primary job shortages not mirrored in secondary
A survey from March 2015 shows that secondary schools are finding it difficult to recruit teachers for many positions.

Optimism over paid parental leave bill

NZEI Te Riu Roa has welcomed the news that a Member's Bill to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks is back before parliament. Labour MP Sue Moroney has had a second bill for increased leave drawn from the ballot and since Winston Peters’ win in...

Govt considers Education Act changes
3News NZ
The Government is reportedly looking into changes to the Education Act, which could see one principal run several schools. Other proposals include giving schools more power to vary their opening hours and allowing them to own and operate early ...

Auckland family helps Stewart Island school

Tuesday 28 July 2015

Parata: Charter school decision best for kids
3News NZ
Students at a troubled Northland charter school face a bleak future if the school is allowed to close, says Education Minister Hekia Parata. Te Pumanawa o te Wairua School was given a second chance yesterday after Ms Parata decided to keep it open for ...

Parents warned to restrict kids' screen time
New Zealand parents are being warned to limit their children's time in front of iPads and other electronic devices after new research found prolonged use can result in long-term back and neck problems.A study by Curtin University...

Kura kaupapa school looking to take te reo into the home
It is a school at the heart of the community and at the heart of the school is te reo Maori.

Pupils are the stars in new digital book
Children from a Māori immersion class in Pukekohe are the stars of a new digital book released by Auckland Transport for Māori Language Week.The short book, T e Rā Ngahau mō te Whānau i Runga Tereina: Whānau...

Effects of financial pressures on tertiary students
Nearly 44 percent of full time students say they don't have enough money to meet their basic needs. Nine to Noon speaks to a financial advisor, student avocate and a GP about the growing pressure being put on students who are often working long hours on top of full time study. Maria Goncalves-Rorke, a student financial services advisor; Sarah Miller, a student advocate at Massey University; and Dr Cathy Stephenson, GP at VUW student health services discuss student hardship.

10 student loan myths busted
Remember when everyone thought the earth was flat? Probably not, because that was a while ago and scientists did a good job of debunking that crazy idea.

Western Springs College teachers lead innovation
Stuff.co.nz
"You just never have the space to do it in that normal classroom environment," he says. "It's quite re-energising being able to just sit down and talk about teaching." Skelton says she is looking forward to seeing the hard work pay off. "The best thing ...

McAuley High tries new teaching approach | Stuff.co.nz
Auckland stuff.co.nz
McAuley High School principal Anne Miles says the new "flipped classroom approach" is working well. They're flipping out at McAuley High School but it's all in a good cause. Students are trialling a "flipped classroom" as part of a project encouraging ...

Monday 27 July 2015

Christchurch's flight from low decile schools

Stuff.co.nz
A New Zealand Council for Education Research (NZCER) report found that 40 per cent of parents send their children to a secondary school that is not their closest one. In some cases, these choices will be religious but it is usually about finding a ...

Minister celebrates 40th Māori Language Week
Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata encourages all New Zealanders to celebrate and engage in Māori Language Week (Te Wiki o te reo Māori). “Māori Language Week is a chance for New Zealanders to celebrate our indigenous language and participate in one of the many events happening around the country that showcase Māori culture,” says Ms Parata. This is the 40th year of Māori Language Week and the theme is Whāngaia te reo ki ngā Mātua – Nurture the language in parents. ...

New classrooms confirmed to meet Auckland growth
Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today confirmed that more than 230 new classrooms are on-track to be delivered over the next 18 months to help meet increasing rolls in Auckland. “Last August, the Government announced it would invest $350 million over four years to get ahead of demand in our biggest city,” says Ms Parata. ...

Reappointments to Education Payroll Limited Board
Steven Joyce | Novopay

Minister Responsible for Novopay, Steven Joyce has today announced two reappointments to the board of Education Payroll Limited. Dame Patsy Reddy has been reappointed for one year as the Chair of Education Payroll Ltd, the company established in 2014 to operate the schools payroll. Murray Jack, former Chair of Deloitte New Zealand, will also serve another year on the board. "Both Dame Patsy and Mr Jack have, provided strong leadership and guidance to date to enable stabilisation of the education payroll," says Mr Joyce. ...

Labour: Charter school robbing kids of education
3News NZ
The government is robbing students at a troubled charter school of a chance at an education, Labour says. Northland charter school Te Pumanawa o te Wairua School was given a second chance on Friday, with Education Minister Hekia Parata deciding to ...

Charter school has budget surplus eight times the average state school
Stuff.co.nz
It has been revealed that 56 per cent of state schools that reported their finances in 2013 had an average operating surplus of $78,051. The 1211 state schools remaining were either breaking even or in the red. Parata said charter schools were funded ...
Fact Checker: Hekia and Charter School FinancesScoop.co.nz (press release)

Charter school model changing while a Northland school gets a last chance
Stuff.co.nz
Seymour said funding, contracting and the application process for charter schools were all under review. While the idea of providing charter schools with large establishment funding wouldn't change, there were certain aspects that would be "tweaked".

NCEA should be recognised for 'transparency and credibility'
Stuff.co.nz
When compared to university, NCEA has a similar kind of varied and ongoing assessment, but in the context of largely isolated modules (as a consequence, one gets an E for a particular standard, not for English as a whole). In contrast, CIE has the more ...

Some 200 extra classrooms for Auckland schools 

The Government is promising 239 new classrooms for Auckland schools over the next 18 months as many reach capacity — and in some cases schools will build up to protect precious sports fields.The Herald on Sunday can reveal...
Parata: Charter school decision best for kids | NZNews | 3 News
3News NZ
Students at a troubled Northland charter school face a bleak future if the school is allowed to close, says Education Minister Hekia Parata. Te Pumanawa o te WairuaSchool was given a second chance yesterday after Ms Parata decided to keep it open for ...

Destiny School 'technically insolvent' after $240,000 loss last year | Stuff.co.nz
Stuff.co.nz
"Our 2014 financials reflect that, as a school, we are doing all we can to deliver a model of quality education with limited financial resources." Massey University history professor Peter Lineham spoke to Destiny School board and staff members for his ...

Northland charter school Te Pumanawa o te Wairua to stay open - Hekia Parata ...
Stuff.co.nz
Green Party education spokeswoman Catherine Delahunty said the school needed to be closed down and any future charter schools needed to be stopped. "The authorisation board needs to be disestablished as well...this should never have happened given ...

New classrooms for Te Atatū Intermediate | Scoop News
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
List MP Alfred Ngaro says more classrooms will help keep up with roll demand and population growth in our region, and replacement classrooms will provide improved, up-to-date infrastructure where needed. ... They will also provide more innovative and ...

Editorial: Te reo Maori deserves to be celebrated - National - NZ Herald News ...
New Zealand Herald
Those Maori who are products of kohanga reo and bilingual schools need to ensure te reo is their first language at home and their children follow the same educational path. They need to make the most of Maori media, especially iwi radio stations and ...

Wake-up call: te reo faces fight to survive - National - NZ Herald News
New Zealand Herald
Only 18.5 per cent of Maori children in preschool education nationally, and just 11.3 per cent in Auckland, are in kohanga. There has also been a flow-on decline in school "immersion" classes, defined as teaching any subject in te reo for at least ...

Destiny School funding blowout | Stuff.co.nz
Stuff.co.nz
Destiny School has been warned it is 'technically insolvent' after it made a $240,000 loss in the past year. The private school situated at Bishop Brian and Hannah Tamaki's City of God in south Auckland saw its costs rise by a third last year to $1.2m ...

Students inspired to pursue careers in science | Stuff.co.nz
Stuff.co.nz
Dovedale School student Odette Peter, 12, was particularly impressed with a display which had bio-fouling collected from the Nelson Marina. "It's really cool, I'd like to work in water with sea creatures," she said. Mapua School student Macgregor Jones ...

An ongoing glut of new teachers causes job search headaches

Primary schools get media savvy

Primary school principals are being urged to pay for one-stop media training to prepare for crisis situations.Everything from lock-downs and student deaths to evacuations and bullying accusations are covered in pre-prepared generic...

Minister throws good money after bad

NZEI Te Riu Roa is appalled that the Whangaruru charter school has the green light to continue operating and even been given up to $129,000 to implement its remedial plan.

University of Auckland toughens literacy requirements
The University of Auckland is beefing up its English requirements for new students in an effort to lift pass rates.

University must honour student concerns | Scoop News
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The University of Otago must listen to its students' concerns about the proposal to axe its Design course, Design Students spokespeople Zac Newton and Ben Alder say. “We are outraged the university has given such a short timeframe for a consultation, ...

Herald on Sunday editorial: Schools rising to the digital challenge
Children today can be familiar with computers by the time they learn to walk. They quickly understand how to manipulate images on a touch-screen and play video games.Many will be more familiar with digital devices than they are...

Hauraki Plains College scores high in NCEA | Stuff.co.nz
Stuff.co.nz
The school also showed students how to read assessment rubrics - the guides which explain what's required for achieved, merit or excellence. "It's there, it's in the open. It's not 'guess what's in the teacher's head'," Harris said. Hauraki's high pass ...

Western Springs College teachers lead innovation 

Teachers are getting the chance to put their theories to the test.

Friday 24 July 2015

Another chance for kids 

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata says she has given Te Pumanawa o te Wairua in Northland a chance to continue operating because of her concerns about finding other educational opportunities for its students. Her decision follows a special audit of the Whangaruru school which raised issues about its financial performance, administration and governance. Ms Parata says the audit findings provided grounds to terminate the partnership agreement with the school, but she has opted not to do so because of her concerns about the school’s students. ...

Court of Appeal upholds the Ministry’s product liability claim
Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye have welcomed today’s judgement from the Court of Appeal about the Ministry of Education’s case against Carter Holt Harvey over leaky school buildings. In 2013, the Ministry started legal proceedings, on behalf of schools, against Carter Holt Harvey, James Hardie and CSR Building Products Ltd alleging the supply of defective building products. Ms Parata says settlements have already been reached with James Hardie and CSR. ...

Modern buildings open at two Auckland schools
Nikki Kaye | Education

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye will today open innovative new learning environments for students and teachers at two Auckland schools. “Today I will open Bayfield School’s new teaching and administration block and Mt Eden Normal School’s four new classrooms,” says Ms Kaye. “These are exciting times for our schools as we look to the future and provide spaces that will foster and enhance collaborative teaching and learning. ...

Pasifika, Maori, boys lagging behind at primary school
Inequality reigns across primary school children's reported ability to learn to read, write and do maths, national data shows.Figures published this week show that while pass rates have climbed slightly, with more than 70 percent...

Troubled charter school to stay open - and get more money
A troubled Northland charter school has been allowed to stay open and will be given a large funding boost - despite an audit finding grounds to terminate its contract and financial management problems.The long-term future of Te...

Another chance for troubled charter school 

The Government is giving the troubled charter school at Whangaruru in Northland one more chance, and increasing its funding.

Warnings about 'takeaways' school ignored
New Zealand Herald
Education officials warned their minister at least three times that a charter school trust - now accused of bribing kids with takeaways - was not experienced enough to teach Maori children. Education Minister Hekia Parata went on to grant the Villa ...

Educators NZ - Are you prepared for the education technology revolution?
Educators NZ
In order to embrace the education technology revolution and provide the best experience for learners, schools must address data gaps, says Advanced Learning, theeducation cloud management system developer. This is the primary finding of a whitepaper ...

Educators NZ - Massive change taking place in education technology market
Educators NZ
The concept of a smart classroom stems from the incorporation of the latest advancements in the education technology (ed tech) and solutions. Ed tech includes innovations that help educational institutions or universities employ the large amounts of ...

Dodgy data distracts from the real challenges to learning | Scoop News
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
"The National Standards data released by the Ministry of Education today shows little change in reading, writing and maths results, but has led to teachers wasting valuable teaching time and children losing more learning time in order to meet the ...

'Kia ora 'cuz' - reaction to Finnian Galbraith's speech on te reo Maori
Kapiti teenager Finnian Galbraith says he had absolutely no idea his speech urging New Zealanders to stop mangling the Māori language would go viral.

Spotlight on charter schools welcome - NZEI | Scoop News
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
NZEI says the bill, sponsored by Phil Goff MP and drawn from the ballot today, could make a useful contribution to public debate about what charter schools were currently offering students, and whether the schools should have any place in the future of ...

More students achieving in Palmerston North | Scoop News
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
23 July 2015. Public Achievement Information shows more students achieving in Palmerston North. List MP Jono Naylor says parents will be happy to know there is steady improvement in Palmerston North with more kids attending Early Childhood Education ...

Tribal Youth Gatherings leave Māori students inspired | Māori Television
Māori Television
The girls were 2 of 5 Maōri students who attended the Tribal Youth Gathering and the United Native Indian Tribal Youth conference. "It was cool because we were able to share with them what we have here such as Kura Kaupapa Māori, Kōhanga Reo and we ...

At-risk toddlers missing out on social support 

New research from Auckland University shows only one in five toddlers living in the most at-risk families are getting access to social support services in the first 1000 days of their lives.

21-23 July 2015

Exciting progress in educational achievement 

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata says a regional breakdown showing the proportion of 18-year-olds with NCEA Level 2 rising in each of the country’s 16 local body regions is exciting. The breakdown shows that between 2011 and 2014 the percentage of 18-year-olds with NCEA Level 2 rose by between 3.8 percentage points and 18.4 percentage points on a regional basis. The information is contained in Public Achievement Information released today to give students, parents, educators and communities a picture of what is happening in their regions and nationally. ...

Agreement clears way for educational progress
Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed an agreement between the Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa on how schools will work together to lift student achievement. The agreement follows discussions between the Ministry and NZEI on collaboration between schools that will target educational challenges and improve teaching and leadership practices. ...

Next steps for Western East Cape Schools
Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata has initiated a second round of consultation over the future of Raukokore School, Te Kura o Ōmaio and Te Whānau-a-Apanui Area School in Western East Cape. “I have made an interim decision that the three schools should close and a new Year 1 – 13 state school should open in January next year to address concerns about the sustainability and quality of education in the area,” Ms Parata says. The proposal arises out of engagement with the community since 2013. ...

First two new tertiary councils formed
Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has announced the first two tertiary councils to be established under changes to the Education Act. Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and the University of Canterbury are the first university and the first wānanga respectively to change their constitutions to reflect the legislative changes passed by Parliament in February to provide smaller, more skills-based councils. ...

$3.7m redevelopment for Lepperton School
Nikki Kaye | Education Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced a $3.7 million redevelopment for Lepperton School in North Taranaki. “This is a significant redevelopment that will address multiple property issues at the school in one coordinated project,” says Ms Kaye. “A number of existing buildings have weather-tightness issues and the school is also experiencing ongoing roll growth. ...

More Māori at high decile schools
Radio New Zealand
A study of inequality in education has found the percentage of Māori children attending higher decile schools has increased as the socio-economic status of Māorihas improved. The independent study by Pūkeko Research showed changes in student ...

MPs raise questions over why all teachers need to be competent in Maori
The Press
Questions have been raised over why maths and science teachers need to be competent in Te Reo Maori and whether it's closing the door to quality overseas teachers. According to the Ministry of Education all teachers were expected to have an ...

Teachers need to pronounce students' names correctly

Hekia Parata | Stuff.co.nz
Stuff.co.nz
Fairfax NZ. National MP Judith Collins doesn't want to see quality overseas teachers overlooked because of Te Reo Maori requirements. The Education Minister expects all teachers to be able to pronounce their student's names correctly out of respect for ...

Initiative leads to Maori playgroup | Otago Daily Times Online News : Otago ...
Otago Daily Times
Its mission is to deliver quality early childhood education that encourages children to be active learners of Maori language and culture, using collaborative rather than teacher-centred learning, she says. It is open to Queenstown families with ...

Education Minister set to close three schools in East Cape
Stuff.co.nz
"Following discussions with the community, rūnanga, schools and local whānau, the Education Ministry has advised me that a new single and more modern school would achieve better educational outcomes for the children of the area, strengthen education ... 

Stuart Middleton: PPTA advice comes at the expense of students

The New Zealand Herald is right to call for more enrolments in trades academies . Yet to protect teacher management jobs from funding cuts, the NZ...

Joint education agreement is good news for kids' education
Scoop.co.nz
NZEI Te Riu Roa and the Ministry of Education have agreed to boost children's educational success through development of a new model of learning communities. NZEI Te Riu Roa President Louise Green said the new model was an exciting educational ...

Minister responds to angry parents' claims | Radio New Zealand News
Radio New Zealand
Education Minister Hekia Parata. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson. Angry parents have accused Middle School West Auckland of doing their children more harm than good. A leaked letter shows some parents - whose children moved from a private Maori ...

School principals accused of patch protection 

Trades academies are accusing some school principals of patch protection over the number of students they'll approve to attend vocational training. A funding anomaly has meant that trades students have been funded as if they were at school full-time, and the Education Ministry is adjusting that. This will mean that schools receive less for those students, and Linda Fox from the PPTA Principals' Council has warned members that up to 60 teaching positions could go if too many students are placed in trades academies. Stuart Middleton from Tertiary High School at Manukau Institute of Technology responds.

Charter school experiment turns into shambles | Scoop News
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“The Education Minister must release all of the information about charter schools she has been sitting on for months. “These latest allegations ... NZ Police - Fatality on Newmarket train tracks - Railway network running again - Auckland City ...

Primary teaching union strikes deal with Ministry of Education on IES | Stuff ...
Stuff.co.nz
It fits under the Government's $359m education policy, Investing in Educational Success (IES), announced in January 2014. The idea was for schools to collaborate in community groups, with new teaching and leadership roles across those, and a teacher...

Increase in special needs funding not enough 

Extra funding for children with special needs is a small step forward in education, experts say.

Primary schools sought for health and wellness week study
More children are sought for New Zealand’s first-ever comprehensive investigation measuring the connection between a range of health indicators and the risk of diabetes or heart disease, also known as cardio-metabolic health.

KFC 'used as charter school reward'
New Zealand Herald
Almost all of the children at the school are Maori. Villa Education Trust, did not respond to emails or calls by the Herald about these concerns. However, EducationMinister Hekia Parata confirmed she received correspondence from a parent on July 6...

Students drive record migration 

A net inflow of 3000 migrants in June pushed the annual net gain to 58,300 - the 11th straight month it has hit a new record.Arrivals were 8000 last month pushing the annual tally to a record 115,700, of whom 29,700 were returning...

Agreement clears way for educational progress
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed an agreement between the Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa on how schools will work together to lift student achievement. The agreement follows discussions ...

Charter school experiment turns into shambles | Scoop News
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“The Education Minister must release all of the information about charter schools she has been sitting on for months. “These latest allegations ... NZ Police - Fatality on Newmarket train tracks - Railway network running again - Auckland City ...

Early Childhood sector takes stock and looks to the future
Hundreds of teachers will meet in Auckland this evening to discuss the future of early childhood education in New Zealand. The event comes twenty years after the introduction of Te Whāriki, the internationally renowned early childhood curriculum and...

Staff members a hot topic for University of Waikato council
Proposed changes to the University of Waikato council have the staff fighting to have more of its number around the table.

Mobile devices key to better learning, says UK school director
Stuff.co.nz
Chohan, who is visiting Auckland to talk to teachers about how he turned his school around, was appointed as one of the directors tasked with improving the school and he did so with the help of mobile devices. The school made technology a central part...

Spotswood College students take ownership of learning, see outstanding results 

The key to success for Spotswood College's head art teacher is asking the student who they are and letting them do the rest. 

Berhampore School to collaborate with four others in new special needs project 

Choosing a school for a special-needs child can be a tough decision for parents, but five Wellington schools want to change that.

17-20 July 2015

More testing won't lift student achievement

Chris Hipkins MP 

Hekia Parata's latest plan to subject school students to even more testing and assessment won't do anything to lift the educational achievement of the kids who are struggling, Labour's Educationspokesperson Chris Hipkins says. “New Zealand school students are already amongst ... Our kids and teachers are spending so much time preparing for tests and assessments that they aren't getting time to actually learn and teach. “Rather than obsess about statistics, the ...

$100m-plus transportable classroom deal signed 

Nikki Kaye | Education
A contract has been signed with the consortium Interlink which will provide over $100 million worth of modern, multi-purpose, transportable classrooms over ten years, says Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye. “This contract will deliver at least 50 transportable classrooms each year to schools around New Zealand, but is designed to deliver more if required,” says Ms Kaye. “The classrooms will be invaluable in situations where a permanent building is temporarily out of action, or we need to meet rapid roll growth in a particular location. ...

$200k 2016 Youth Fund open for applications 

Nikki Kaye | Youth
Youth Minister Nikki Kaye today opened applications for Youth Fund 2016, which makes $200,000 available for community projects led by young people. “This fund is unique because it supports projects designed and led by young people themselves, either working alone or in partnership with youth organisations,” says Ms Kaye. “As well as benefiting their communities, this helps young people between the ages of 12 and 24 develop decision-making and leadership skills. ...

Insight for 19 July 2015 - Top Teachers - Divided Schools 

John Gerritsen explores why the government's flagship scheme to improve education is dividing schools.

Education threatening Māori leaders - educationalist
An American educationalist is challenging the Minister of Education to do more through the school curriculum to nurture and develop the next generation of Māori leaders.

School racial segregation disadvantaging students, report says

Stuff.co.nz
Waikato University professor of education Martin Thrupp did not believe the British study translated to New Zealand, given the success of kura kaupapa for Maori and the country's unique considerations of the treaty and indigenous culture. Ministry of ...

Families face split by schools
Siblings are likely to end up at separate primary schools as strict new school zones come into force at a number of Auckland primary schools this year.The Ministry of Education has contacted 10 state schools concerned classrooms...

The trouble with being gifted
Stuff.co.nz
Namely, the professional development of teachers doesn't adequately cover giftededucation. Few teacher training colleges offer specialised training and often teachershave to take it upon themselves to seek further information. There can be ...

Students miss out on trades 

High school principals will cut the number of pupils attending popular trades academies in a bid to protect the jobs of teachers and senior management.The academies were introduced in 2011 offering courses ranging from hospitality...

Herald on Sunday editoral: Secondary schools shut doors to trades 

Teachers' unions always insist they are professional bodies serving the interests of education, not just their members.How disappointing, therefore, to discover the Post Primary Teachers' Association's secondary principals' council...

PPTA now wants trades training banned in schools - Whale Oil Beef ...
There is a story in a Sunday newspaper that illustrates what dreadful backwards thinking people the unionised teachers are. Children are being discouraged, or even banned, from attending trades courses because the ...

Teachers looking to bridge the gap between kindy and primary school
Three Taranaki teachers are looking for a new approach to give kids a "flying start" when they head to primary school.

Lecturers: It's hard to survive as a student - The Wireless
More students in New Zealand are working long hours and shouldering huge debt - and it's leaving them exhausted, sick and unable to get the most out of their education, university lecturers say. “Being astudent is hard”, ...

Government under fire for charter school 'rort'
The government is under fire for awarding a charter school a contract before ensuring it had somewhere to teach its kids.Villa Education Trust was unable to find a big enough site to lease before it opened its Middle School West...

Tomorrow's Schools 25 years on
Voxy
This finding is consistent with every previous piece of research that has been done on school choice in New Zealand, which finds that parents make social/ economic rather than educational choices for their children. In short, the evidence is that ...

Govt to fund ICT schools
3News NZ
The Government will spend $28.6 million on three technology-focused graduateschools in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch over the next four years, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says. The Information and ...

Educators NZ - Interactive projectors changing classrooms
Educators NZ
“After the earthquakes a new campus plan was drawn up which included three newclassroom blocks and the renovation of a fourth block,” he says. “Our requirements meant that the projectors all be the same brand, of particularly high quality and that ...

New research shows students want LGBTI education | Stuff.co.nz
Stuff.co.nz
The workshops took place over a six week period, both schools were co-educationalmetropolitan Auckland schools. Aych McArdle, education director of Rainbow Youth, says the results come at an important time, with recently released information showing ...

OBITUARY: Joan Holland, a dedicated educator
A generation of young women had their lives shaped by a formidable role model.

Early Childhood sector takes stock and looks to the future
Hundreds of teachers will meet in Auckland this evening to discuss the future of early childhood education in New Zealand.

Funding Shortage Puts the Brakes on Vital Peer-to-Peer Tutor
More than 6,000 Kiwi secondary students are spending their holidays swotting subjects without the help of our country’s top talent as critical funding is stretched for New Zealand’s acclaimed not-for-profit, dedicated peer-to-peer tutoring programme ...

South Auckland gets a boost of academic mana
New Zealand Herald
Government's goal is 55 per cent of all 25-34-year-olds having a tertiary educationqualification. • Another of its tertiary education priorities is lifting the achievement ofMaori and Pasifika students. • South Auckland has the fastest growing youth ...

Grey Lynn school looks for attention
NZ Catholic
“From that lots of ideas and opinions were brainstormed,” she said, “and one major aspect that came across was that a couple of new parents said, 'We didn't know that there was a school. We knew about the church, but didn't know about the school.'”

Manawatu Prison's Te Ara Maori Unit gaining mana after Alpha Christian unit
Stuff.co.nz
Both Andrew and James believe they will take their education with them, learning te reo Maori also, when they get out of prison in a few years. "I sort of lost heart when I was younger, with the path that I took," Andrew says. And James: "I haven't ...

Thursday 16 July 2015

ICT Graduate Schools announced in Auckland and Christchurch 

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today announced the successful hosts of the first two new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Graduate Schools to be established in Auckland and Christchurch. ...

Rural school closed because of declining numbers
Stuff.co.nz
Ministry of Education head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said the board of Mangamaire Country School asked in April this year for the school to be closed because of its small roll, which had led to a lack of social opportunities for ...

Changing the way you teach: technology in schools

Educators NZ
Most major tech companies nowadays offer education platforms that can be utilised within the classroom. Google offers a wide range of apps specifically designed for use within an education environment. Likewise, Apple has developed thousands of ...

Microsoft's new Office 365 Education services in the works
Educators NZ
“There are many different technology tools available to educators, so we built Class Dashboard to easily integrate with solutions teachers already use in the classroom. “Using existing Office 365 public APIs, technology partners can access the classes, ...

Schools warm up to merino
Stuff.co.nz
Keeping their children warm in fine wool jerseys in a classroom proved harder than Le Bons Bay farmers Carl and Tori Uren first thought. The option of buying their eldest daughter a polar fleece jersey as part of the school uniform was a no-go zone for ...

Waikato council decision is anti-democratic
Tertiary Update Vol 18 No 23 Waikato University's decision to provide just one seat for staff on its new council is a calamity for democracy says TEU vice-president Cat Pausé. Waikato's council voted yesterday to adopt a new council constitution that makes space for only one staff member, to be nominated by Academic Board, and one …

International fees to go up 3 per cent at University of Waikato
International fees will rise 3 per cent at the University of Waikato, which could bring it an extra $800,000.

Grey Lynn school looks for attention
NZ Catholic
“From that lots of ideas and opinions were brainstormed,” she said, “and one major aspect that came across was that a couple of new parents said, 'We didn't know that there was a school. We knew about the church, but didn't know about the school.'”

14-15 July 2015

Te Ururoa Flavell: Local kura sweep speech competition
New Zealand Herald
What better place to showcase the tourism we have in Aotearoa than here in Rotorua with Trenz. Photo/Ben Fraser. Congratulations to the participants of the recent Te Arawa Nga Manu korero speech competition held at Waiariki Institute of Technology.

Peter Lyons: NCEA's lack of competitiveness turn off for boys 

Boys are often fun to teach. I always swore I would never teach at a boys' school given my own experiences at school in the 1970s. It was violent, brutish and dull. Sadly, I fitted in well.Boys tend towards the bovine and girls...

N4L: 1815 schools and counting as connections steam ahead
Educators NZ
More than 572,000 Kiwi students and teachers across 1815 schools can now access safe, fast internet thanks to the government-funded Managed Network. The Ministry of Education says nearly 40 schools connected to the network in the last few months, ...

'Growing gap' between wages in early childhood: council 

A two-tier wage system is developing for those who teach the youngest Kiwis, according to some in the sector.

Education committee members who went to private school
Schools Week
Committee chair Neil Carmichael (Con, Stroud) attended a state primary school before moving to St Peter's School (pictured), a co-educational independent boarding and day school in York. Founded by St Paulinus of York in 627, it is the third oldest ...

Censure of teacher criticised 

The principal of an Auckland primary school has criticised the Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal for not being tougher on a teacher who managed a business and bought a house during class time.Ravinesh Chand, of Colwill School in Massey,...

Chinese student arrivals expected to hold up despite slowdown, stock slump
A slowdown in the Chinese economy and a slump in the country's stock markets which has eroded the savings of many investors isn't expected to crimp demand for education in New Zealand, where they are the largest source of international...

Porirua College struggling with parents to keep kids in class
The Press
Some students at a Wellington school are taken out of class by their parents for two months at a time "to visit granny". Porirua College, a decile one school where nine out of ten pupils are of Maori or Pasifika ethnicity, has gradually increased its ...

Rugby league used to tackle education in Tokoroa school
Stuff.co.nz
A Tokoroa primary school is tackling shortfalls in student achievement as just under half of its boys failed to reach national reading standards last year. Strathmore School has devised a rugby league themed reading programme in order "accelerate ...

New entrance scholarships increase opportunities at Otago

New entrance scholarships increase opportunities at Otago The University of Otago today announced the expansion of its scholarship offerings for 2016 with the creation of a new scholarship as well as increases to existing scholarships for commencing ...

Lincoln University begins search for new Vice-Chancellor 

14 July 2015 - for immediate release Lincoln University begins international search for new Vice-Chancellor

Monday 13 July 2015

Education New Zealand board appointments announced 

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced five appointments to the Education New Zealand board. Charles Finny has been reappointed as the Board Chair for an eighteen-month term. Mr Finny was the inaugural Chair of the Education New Zealand board and has been an effective contributor since Education New Zealand was established in 2011. Through his reappointment Education New Zealand will continue to benefit from his knowledge and experience in the international education sector and Education New Zealand’s business. ...

NCEA excellence and merit endorsements more than double
Nearly half of all students successful at NCEA level one got a merit or excellence 'endorsement' last year. ... The proportion of pupils getting NCEA excellence endorsements has more than doubled at every level since 2010. A doubling ..... Victoria University school of education senior lecturer Michael Johnston said the shift towards internal assessment in NCEA in recent years had seen an increase in endorsement rates, because students typically did better at internal ...

Does NCEA tell employers what they need to know?

Stuff.co.nz
He says he doesn't pay much attention to NCEA grades on CVs, instead looking for work experience. "We find that practical knowledge is much better than book knowledge. If they are just out of school then it is a bit relevant, but I'd rather know if...

NCEA by the numbers: Are boys closing gaps?

NCEA 'eliminates the competition young men enjoy'
NCEA is better suited to girls, two boys' school principals believe.

NCEA giveth and it taketh away

Stuff.co.nz
On a participation-based measure - which counts only the students who have attempted enough credits to pass - the NCEA level one pass rate has more than doubled since 2008 to 78.1 per cent. But Crawford eschews this measure. "Our big focus is on roll ...

A student's perspective of NCEA
Stuff.co.nz
There are two types of NCEA assessment: Unit standards, where a candidate can only achieve or not achieve, and achievement standards, where a candidate can not achieve, achieve, achieve with merit, or achieve with excellence. Most standards at school ...

Top scholars look back at NCEA

Stuff.co.nz
... generally the only high school level qualification making it onto their CVs. "There's definitely a value in scarcity," says Emanuel. "But I don't think employers are that sensitive to that fine of a distinction. These were always broad brushes ...

Improving school: We're not fiddling the figures
Stuff.co.nz
There are 1200 students on the roll, and 48 percent are Pasifika and 48 percent are Maori. Count again, though, this time including students who withdrew from courses before assessment time, and the pass rates aren't as glowing. The pass rates at ...

Data Manipulation Function of Target Setting
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
'Then they become the measure of a school's performance and reported as such,' she says. 'The problems are just the same with national standards assessments at the primary levels,' she said. 'They are dangerous, misleading and unhelpful to children's ...

Peter Hughes: Special ed services revamp shaped by feedback 

Just over 25 years ago, schools were for the first time required to enrol all children who came through their doors, including those with special needs.It was a radical new vision. Until that rewrite of the Education Act in 1989,...

Editorial: Special-needs children need more funding 

If the public was asked to choose the most worthy use of their taxation, children in need of special education would probably be at or near the top of the list. These are children born with neurological disabilities of various degrees...

$6.6m special education underspend revealed

A breakdown of government spending has revealed a $6.6 million underspend on special education so far this financial year.The Herald reported earlier this week that a $1.2 billion Government surplus in the 11 months to May was...
Specially-trained teachers needed for violent children 

Designated staff members should be specially trained to restrain violent and unruly pupils, a leading secondary school principal says.A taskforce is compiling guidelines for teachers and school staff when dealing with a child whose...

New weapon in battle against learning disorders
There is hope parents and teachers could soon have access to a revolutionary new learning tool for adjusting children's brains before learning disorders are diagnosed.

No Government money for teacher pay rises in four years 

No Government money for teacher pay rises in four years The Early Childhood Council (ECC) has today (10 July 2015) expressed ‘frustration’ that the Government has paid no money for education and care centre teacher pay increases in four years. ...

Compulsory test cracks down on student dishonesty
Stuff.co.nz
The university's online academic integrity course was made compulsory for all students this year, making Auckland the only tertiary institution in New Zealand where such a test is mandatory. Students who do not complete the test face having their ...

Bill Sole: NZ needs more apprentices
Once again the universities are the big winners in the Budget. Unfortunately, despite international research increasingly pointing to the value of workplace training and apprenticeships, the 2015 Budget failed to increase the inflation-adjusted...

Schools as the hub of the community
US educator and researcher Pedro Noguera, whose work has largely focussed on poor children, and why they have poor educational outcomes. He says that under privileged children can be locked into patterns of poverty if they don't receive a rich education. He contends that low expectations can also lead to low outcomes, and that there is no point in repeatedly assessing children if that data is not going to be used to intervene. Professor Noguera says schools need to become community hubs, serving whole families, and he's studied examples of this in a range of communities experiencing hardship in the United States.

Looking for Details on $175 Million Lost From Education
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
New Zealand First's Education Spokesperson Tracey Martin wants to know the details of the government's underspending on education. “The government has explained that the underspend includes $27 million on salaries, but fails to point to anything else.

Gambling a problem among New Zealand high school students
Stuff.co.nz
More education in schools would also help prevent young people developing unhealthy gambling habits, she said. The Problem Gambling Foundation ran public health campaigns with young ... The study found those at the most risk of developing unhealthy ...

Māori student experience days align with Matariki
Massey News (press release)
Māori student recruitment advisers Tania Jahnke and Te Aue Addison Te-Whare kicked off their Māori student university experience days last week in an effort to align them around Matariki celebrations, which are themed on planning for the future and new ...


Bible in Schools programme under review
3News NZ
The first one is to consult us and school principals next week, about some draft guidelines to reduce the pain caused by bible in schools." Mr Hines says law change is still a priority, with the group looking at making a complaint to the Human Rights ...

Initiative aims to inspire pupils' reading
Otago Daily Times Online
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepoti school pupil Tumai Joseph Campbell (8) receives his book from Community Assessment Rehabilitation Associates representative Siobhan McKinley last Friday. Photo by Gregor Richardson.

Older student numbers plummet
Scoop.co.nz (press release)
... 2015, 7:24 am. Press Release: NZ Union of Students Associations and Grey Power ... The national student union NZUSA and Grey Power say a crash in the number of older New Zealanders studying shows the Government's discriminatory cuts to student ...

A case for the School of Music
Stuff.co.nz
Our beloved school of music has the answers, and our collective responsibility lies not only in the musical education of generations to come, but in the preservation of Nelson's architectural heritage, now more than ever with the accumulating tilt slab ...

Taranaki high schools' senior students failing final year
Stuff.co.nz
Three Taranaki high schools rate among the country's best in NCEA results - but for the rest of them it's a matter of "can do better." Fairfax's latest School Report, which details academic results for every school where the National Standards or the ...

Suggested Montessori programme cuts criticised
A proposal to stop teaching parts of AUT University's Bachelor of Education is under fire.

Students learning savvy cash skills

Auckland stuff.co.nz
YMCA Auckland is on a mission to teach students about cash management through its Money Savvy programme. The course promotes economic independence by teaching the students how to save and reach financial goals. Budgeting, savings, needs and ...