Wednesday, 10 July 2014

OECD expert says New Zealand school system has plateaued

A visiting education expert says New Zealand's performance in international tests is stalling and if the country is to rise further in the global rankings, the best teachers need to work with the toughest students. 

Concern over school input into body image

Stuff.co.nz
New research claims traditional "1960s-based" physical education excludes and stigmatises overweight and unco-ordinated kids, while teaching children that being fat and eating bad foods is wrong reinforces a narrow view of what it means to be fit and ... 

Nothing standard

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Much of the criticism from schools had been the poor professional development offered to teachers before the introduction of National Standards, Prof Thrupp says. “Schools are universally damning of the initial professional development,” he says. “It's ... 

Teaching lessons about nature

Auckland stuff.co.nz
And now the specialist science teacher will take that hands-on approach and everything she has learnt back to the classroom at Somerville Intermediate. "It is about creating a more action-orientated programme, rather than just talking about it - now it ... 

Principal leads her school on upward path

She may be the principal, but Flaxmere College head Louise Anaru shies away from the word "leader".Ms Anaru has been awarded a Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award for her work at the school, which she has led for the past three years.Asked..

Teaching people skills to help employment prospects

Helping the long-term unemployed and society's maginalised get into jobs is the prime driver and motivation of educator and Executive Director and founder of Stellaris.

Hon Dr Nick Smith - Speech at Valuing Nature Conference

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
There is a parallel reform occurring in the education sphere with transparent reporting through National Standards in literacy and numeracy. This is a simple philosophy - you can't manage what you don't measure. This Valuing Nature conference needs to ...

Head boy disappointed in Dunne over food bill

Naenae College head boy Tom Bird says it's a huge blow for students that independent MP Peter Dunne will not support Hone Harawira's food in schools bill.Mr Dunne issued a statement today saying he would not support the Education... 

Victoria welcomes collaboration with Callaghan Innovation

Victoria University is committed to supporting initiatives that will help to achieve Sir Paul Callaghan’s vision of greater commercialisation of innovation in New Zealand. 

Closer engagement with Callaghan Innovation welcomed

The University of Auckland has welcomed Callaghan Innovation’s Statement of Intent which will see the crown entity partner more closely with universities.

Tuesday, 9 July 2013

More young NZers succeeding in education

Steven Joyce | Education
More young New Zealanders are succeeding in education with further progress towards achieving the Government’s Better Public Service [BPS] results targets. Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata say the Government’s drive for greater NCEA success is showing strong results that are making a real difference for young people. Result 5: Increase the proportion of 18-year-olds with NCEA Level 2 or equivalent qualification ...

New Zealand children getting better start to life

Tony Ryall | Education
New Zealand children are getting a better start in life as a result of progress towards the Government’s Better Public Services results, social sector Ministers Tony Ryall, Paula Bennett and Hekia Parata say. “This National-led Government is committed to ensuring New Zealand children are safe and healthy,” Health Minister Tony Ryall says. ...

Student failure claims inaccurate and simplistic - PPTA

The Post Primary Teachers Association have released research they believe shows it is inaccurate and simplistic to say one in five New Zealand students is failing in education.Independent researchers Liz Gordon, who was a former... 

Schools divided along wealth lines

New Zealand schools have less of a mix of rich and poor students than in the past, a new report shows.Principals have reported the growing division, and say some parents are driving their children large distances to avoid local... 

Teacher aides increasingly caring for and educating special needs children

Shelley Mercer, mother of a boy with Asperger's syndrome; Phillip Harding, president of the NZ Principals Federation, which represents primary and Intermediate school principals; and Brian Coffey, Group Manager Special Education Ministry of Education. 

Barnardos confident in its home-based education service

Following today’s Ministry of Education announcement that a planned review of the sector will be deferred, Barnardos, a leading provider of home-based education for over 35 years, is confident in the quality of its own service. 

Government brings reading home

For 17 years the Government has been adding to home libraries around the country thanks to its support of the Duffy Books in Homes programme. 

Braille books given to school

In a room full of books, Giana Edwards finally has something she can read. 

Bringing the Kiwi classroom into the digital age

Modern learning requires modern classrooms, and that's what Campbell Live is looking at tonight. 

Study or research in the US with a Fulbright graduate award

Fulbright New Zealand calls for applications to its range of exchange awards for New Zealand graduate students to study or research in the United States of America during the 2014-2015 American academic year. 

Change works well for Zayed College

Auckland stuff.co.nz
Good work is being done to track year 7 and 8 students' National Standards progress, the report says. ERO will continue to work with the school over the next one to two years. Ad Feedback. - © Fairfax NZ News. | Saved Stories | Saved Stories. | Saved ... 

Drug trouble at Sacred Heart Girls' College

Stuff.co.nz
A group of students from Hamilton Catholic school, Sacred Heart Girls' College, have been stood down for an alleged case of serious misconduct involving drugs. Board of Trustees chairman David Kraakman said five girls, aged under 16, were stood down ...

Monday 8 July 2013

Minister congratulates principals on awards

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata says the two principals who have been awarded Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards tonight are outstanding examples of what inspirational leadership in schools can do for raising achievement. The Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards recognise six emerging New Zealand leaders each year who show outstanding leadership and demonstrate the ability to build and lead successful teams. The Blake Medal is also awarded to an exceptional New Zealand leader at the annual Awards event. ...

Leading educational expert Andreas Schleicher to visit New Zealand

Hekia Parata | Education
Leading world expert on educational achievement and best practice, Andreas Schleicher, will visit New Zealand next week. Mr Schleicher will be in New Zealand from 8-11 July as a guest of Education Minister, Hekia Parata. Mr Schleicher is the Deputy Director for Education and Skills and Special Advisor on Education Policy to the OECD's Secretary-General. ...

Education under huge pressure to cut costs

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Documents released by Treasury confirm the Government is dampening demand fortertiary education to balance the books, says Labour's Tertiary Education spokesperson Megan Woods. “The documents note that 'even if pressures are scaled back ... from ...

Novopay blamed for hold-ups

The Novopay debacle is being blamed for delaying the release of National Standards data - an excuse described as odd by a leading unionist.Education Minister Hekia Parata said last month the national schools performance reports...

Study at odds with teachers' union claims

MSN NZ News
A US study, which a New Zealand teachers' union has used to back up its claims thatcharter schools are failing, says they are actually helping struggling students. A study by Stanford University's Centre for Research on Educational Outcomes was ...

Charter school operators in waiting game

NZ City
Providers to operate the country's first charter schools will be chosen within weeks, but opponents are warning of a step backwards for public education. Legislation to establish the controversial publicly-funded, privately-run schools passed its final ...

Pre-adolescents forced into high schools

The Press
He is encouraged that acting education secretary Peter Hughes was recently made Longstone's permanent replacement. He says that neither Parata nor Hughes has "ruled out the notion" of a year 7 to 10 middle school being included in the plans for a new ..

HELO supports the Ministry of Education decision

New Zealand’s home-based childcare providers have welcomed the Government’s decision to work more closely with the sector, rather than putting it through a review process.

Association supports increased Homebased EC

The NZ Homebased ECE Association has today expressed regret that the Ministry of Education has cancelled the Homebased ECE Review as announced last December but is happy to see that they are taking a measured approach to continue working with the ...

Review of funds for learning disabled

Stuff.co.nz
"And their confused parents wonder why the classroom teachers were unable to tell them what was going wrong earlier. "The teachers probably didn't know themselves as they are not adequately trained to recognise specific learning disabilities." Dyslexia ...

Where are the jobs, teaching graduates ask

Stuff.co.nz
She waits for the call from a school asking if she's available to work. "I have to be ready by seven every day, because most schools will call between 6.30 and seven and I never know where I might be going to that day. So taking into consideration ...

Sleepy, slack and bored - why some NZ pupils lag behind

Being underprepared and not getting enough sleep are reasons why New Zealand school children are lagging behind their international counterparts, research has found.Maths is a particular problem area, with more than two-thirds of...

High staff turnover for Maori immersion teachers

Radio New Zealand
High staff turnover for Maori immersion teachers. Updated at 6:33 am on 17 June 2013. The national body for Maori medium education says its teachers are sticking with the job for only about five years. Te Runanga Nui o Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori o Aotearoa ...

Speaking te reo normal in class

Auckland stuff.co.nz
Similar to the difference between a preschool and a primary school, kaupapa offer more structured learning, focused more closely on student achievement, than kohanga reo, which enrol young children (mokupuna) aged 1 to 6, Mrs Waitoa-Paki said. TKKM o ...

Te reo promoted in artworks

Waikato Times
Latisha Moke-Davis, 8, said Old Man Tree would stand outside their classroom door and they would get to see it every day, including small green shapes all over the pou's hair. "They're slugs," she said. "They're crawling up Old Man Tree's dreads ...

UCOL student roll dives

Stuff.co.nz
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) last year put $38 million of its $115m pool of Special Achievement Criteria funding up for tender to private training establishments for the first time. Just $6m was distributed among New Zealand's polytechnics ...

Region's school-leavers gaining better marks

Manawatu Standard
The college's statistics reflect national trends of under-achievement by Maori and Pasifika learners, who were noted to be lagging behind in the school's Education Review Office reports. ERO's 2013 report found Rangitikei College had made strides in ...

Frustration grows over students' web antics

Teenagers trashing their peers online is a growing problem for school principals, who say learning is hindered by after-hours issues spilling into the schoolyard.

Teachers' union is 'crazy'

Waikato Times
There was no mention of the freedom partnership schools will give Maori and Pacific communities to try new and different ways of engaging their children (many of whom currently make up that tail) in education. She did, however, discuss how partnership ...

No-fear maths a winner

Stuff.co.nz
She said Mr Sharpe had customised some of the centre's assessment tools in a way that personalised them for adult learners and his templates were now being used by other tutors. Mr Sharpe said former Witt literacy and numeracy tutors Jan Brown and ...

Students glimpse future at careers day | Stuff.co.nz

A world of opportunity was opened up to budding students looking to further their education at the annual Nelson Futures Conference. ... students made their own pizza. Nelson College for Girls year 12 studentKalida Hamilton took part in the construction workshop, as well as three others including forestry. She aims to join the New Zealand Defence Force after she ... All hands on deck as pupils give fence artistic makeover · Motueka looking sharp on TV · Parents' joy ...

School repairs out in the cold

Stuff.co.nz
On rainy days, her school had buckets scattered around classrooms catching drips from a leaky roof. The school needed a new roof, but staff could only afford to plug holes. "It's very frustrating because these kids have substandard buildings and they ...

Friday 5 July 2013

April tertiary enrolment numbers released

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment 

Enrolment numbers in New Zealand’s tertiary education sector for the first four months of this year have dropped in line with forecasts. Under the Single Data Return (SDR) reporting system comparing April 2012 to April 2013, the figures show: ... 

Too many teachers, too few teaching positions

Stuff.co.nz
Waikato University research predicts a primary teacher shortage by 2019 as rolls increase and a large cohort of teachers retire, which will have a flow-on effect in secondaryschools. Education Ministry figures show there will be 44,500 more primary ...

ERO finds vocational options lacking

Stuff.co.nz
An ERO report published yesterday looked at how 74 schools prepared their pupils for future study and work, finding many lacked provision for vocational courses. Fortunately for Mr Ryan, now 18, he had a supportive school and a dean who encouraged him ... 

Strengthening home-based early childhood education (ECE)

Ministry is working closely with the home-based ECE sector to ensure best start for all children 

Lack of planning in teacher oversupply

NZEI Te Riu Roa says the number of beginning teachers seeking jobs is proof of lack of planning by Government and labour market failure. 

Government further exploiting Christchurch education

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“Revelations about the PPP plans for Christchurch follow Ms Parata's refusal last week to rule out letting charter schools occupy the sites of state schools she has closed under her so called Renewal Plan. “Christchurch children need stability and calm ... 

Student loan arrest plan polls well

A hardline Government policy to recoup student loan debt by arresting serious defaulters at the border has proved popular in a Herald -DigiPoll survey.The policy of arresting the most non-compliant borrowers was introduced in Budget... 

Overseas students at Waikato hit by rise

Stuff.co.nz
International students at the University of Waikato will be hit with a significant fee increase next year. Fees are set to rise four per cent from 2014, potentially adding more than $1000 to each degree, but bringing in an estimated $1 million in extra ... 

Free tertiary fees for Pacific Island students

Pacific Islanders keen to get into the civil construction, scaffolding or mining industries could be eligible for free training as part of a government scheme. 

Grants assist e-learning for Maori students

Techday NZ
Applicants that were successful this year offered programmes where the obvious benefits for students in the classroom were highlighted as a result of participation. Deanne Thomas, Kaihautū Māori for Core Education says its contribution is but a small ... 

Tikanga for 21st century business

Corporates uncomfortable with powhiri or other Maori meetings can sign up to a new Waikato University course aimed at giving them the skills to participate, says Professor Pou Temara.A te reo and tikanga exponent, Professor Temara... 

Passion for education not diminished

Auckland stuff.co.nz
The school principal's office is generally the last place most students want to end up. But those who find themselves in Bas Barriball's office are more likely to be getting help with their schoolwork than being sternly pulled back into line. It is ...

Thursday 4 July 2013

More students leaving school with NCEA Level 2

Hekia Parata | Education Education Minister Hekia Parata says the final NCEA results show more students are leaving school having achieved NCEA Level 2. The 2012 results show that 74.3 per cent of school leavers achieved NCEA Level 2 last year compared to 72.4 per cent in 2011. That’s a 10.1 per cent increase since 2009. The results show: ..

Minister thanks Aranui schools for their feedback

Hekia Parata | Education Education Minister Hekia Parata has thanked the five Aranui schools in greater Christchurch for providing feedback on the interim decision announced in May. "I would like to thank the Aranui school communities for engaging in the consultation process, and for the effort each school put into their feedback. I will read and consider all of the information provided carefully before making my final decision,’’ Ms Parata says. The interim decision is that: .. 

That's one way to avoid having to teach them - Whale Oil Beef Hooked

The New Zealand Council for Educational Research's recent report on the state of our schools showed 60 per cent of surveyed teachers have faced bad behaviour from pupils that has seriously disrupted their teaching. 

Catherine Isaac to chair charter schools board; conflict of interest, says Labour

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Hekia Parata's appointment of Catherine Isaac to chair the charter schools authorisation board, despite a clear conflict of interest, shows National still puts political expediency and cronyism ahead of Kiwi kids' education, says Labour's Education ... 

Schools steering Maori and Pasifika away from uni, says ERO

New Zealand Listener
Some schools are selling Maori and Pasifika short by channeling them into “vocational” courses such as agriculture, tourism or hospitality, a national report by the EducationReview Office has found. These courses let students pick up NCEA credits for ...

Students ill-prepared for real world: ERO

NZ City
Many secondary schools are falling short on preparing students for life beyond school, with the Education Review Office calling for more innovation in their curricula. A review of 74 schools last year found "considerable variation" in how responsive ... 

Focus on preparing secondary students for life after school

Many secondary schools need to ensure their curriculum better prepares their students for life after school, according to a new report released today by the Education Review Office (ERO). 

Structural change needed to stop dropping out of education

Hundreds of US high school pupils drop out of school every hour and it's no secret that New Zealand has a high rate of student disengagement from education. At least one in every eight of our young people is not involved in education, employment or ... 

Money makes a difference

Did you know that kids at decile 10 private schools are five times more likely to receive funding for assistance during exams than kids at decile 1-3 schools? Nearly a quarter of King's College NCEA students got funding for special assistance! Gosh, maybe there's something wrong with those schools, that so many of their kids need help. 

Incorrect pronunciation of Maori names impacts children

The Maori Language Commission says butchering and mispronouncing the Maori names of children makes them disengage from the classroom. It wants to raise awareness of the importance of correct pronunciation of Maori names in this year's Maori Language Week. 

Principal's big push for every day te reo

Northern Advocate
"The New Zealand Curriculum Treaty of Waitangi principle sets a clear expectation that schools should provide opportunities for students to learn about Maori language and culture," an Education Ministry spokesman said. Topics: maori language week, ... 

Boarding allowance changes welcomed by Rural Women NZ

Rural Women New Zealand welcomes the announcement of new boarding allowances for geographically isolated students and others who experience significant barriers to achievement at their local school. 

Wananga hopes more will attend free classes

Wanganui Chronicle
"I put my eldest daughter through te kohanga reo and I didn't even know the language myself. My youngest child now is learning te ara reo at school, so that's motivated me," she said. Jennie McLachlan is learning Maori to tautoko (support) her daughter .. 

Police collaborate with UCOL students on crime prevention

Whanganui Police have teamed up with students from the Universal College of Learning (UCOL) to create a sticker and stencil aimed at spreading crime prevention messages to the community.

Wednesday 3 July 2013

Teachers feeling unsafe at school

Students pose a professional hazard for teachers, with many admitting to feeling unsafe in the classroom at some point in their school career.

Computers in Homes funding extended

Hekia Parata | Community and Voluntary Sector The Government has today announced it will continue funding for Computers in Homes for the next financial year. Education Minister Hekia Parata says this is possible through moving up to $1.6 million of funding from Vote Education to the Department of Internal Affairs for the purposes of digital literacy. “Computers in Homes connects families and communities with education and technology that’s why there are three of us making this announcement today,’’ Ms Parata says. ...

Charter schools: Test results rise in new study

Charter school students outperform their public school peers in some areas, a new study shows, as the Government continues to work towards introducing the controversial schools in New Zealand.However, New Zealand's largest education... 

Kinect technology captures imaginations

Techday NZ
The Trust's latest mobile classroom, one of 45 across the country, is equipped with Microsoft Kinetic technology and the software so as they react and move in the mobileclassroom, it appears the images are of their own skeleton and organs. Teachers ...

NZEI congratulates school on supporting living wage for staff

The move by a Dunedin school to become the first Living Wage school in New Zealand is just the start of a national movement in the education sector, NZEI Te Riu Roa says. 

Maori Name for EIT

Te Aho a Māui is to sit alongside EIT- Eastern Institute of Technology as the formal Māori name for the East Coast’s leading tertiary education institution. 

Student stabbed with compass

Stuff.co.nz
"We have posters in every classroom that help students who are being bullied and let them know what to do." The posters show a flow chart showing options such as restorative meetings with the bullies and highlighting consequences for offenders. 

Ministry blamed for school flooding

Stuff.co.nz
The Ministry of Education connected Porirua College's stormwater pipes to the city network in 2008, but the council has denied receiving any consent application. Since the connection, there has been regular flooding of nearby Maraeroa School. Flooding ... 

Degrees of change for law student

Auckland stuff.co.nz
... of change for law student. TAO LIN. Last updated 05:00 03/07/2013. Exchange ESC. GERMANY BOUND: Top student Miriam Chew will receive the very best in German legaleducation when she goes on exchange to one of the country's top law schools.

Tuesday 2 July 2013

School funds review 'timely'

Stuff.co.nz
"I think we need to get more precise and as we get more data, like national standardsdata, we can be more precise about where we target our funding and resources. "Decile funding is a blunt ... funding at the moment." jonathan.carson@waikatotimes.co.nz.

National standards will secure a brighter future

The Dominion Post
We are slipping down the global education league table, largely because others are improving while we remain the same or, in some cases, slip behind. As a country that depends on the skills of our people to earn our living, we should be ... A growing ...

Digital literacy supports learning

Auckland stuff.co.nz
"It is important for our city's economy and the national economy to lift the educationlevels of our youngsters." Mr Brown says the council is looking for financial partners to support all schools without access to such electronic tools. Assistant ... 

University unveils $125m plans

The University of Canterbury has revealed ambitious development plans despite being upfront about the fact it does not have the money to fulfil its wish-list. 

School board still not back in Moerewa

More than a year after Moerewa School's board was sacked the Education Ministry is considering how much longer to leave a commissioner in charge.Education Minister Hekia Parata gave the Board of Trustees marching orders on April... 

Unitec Chief Executive reappointed until 2016

The largest Institute of Technology in the country, Unitec Institute of Technology, has reappointed Dr Rick Ede as Chief Executive for another four years. 

New Universities NZ Chair keen to enhance contribution

Professor Roy Crawford, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Waikato, has been appointed Chair of Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara. 

New role to address economics of disasters

A Chair in the Economics of Disasters which has been established at Victoria University will provide new knowledge to guide New Zealand in the aftermath of disasters like the Canterbury earthquakes. 

Students tackle poverty in NZ

Auckland stuff.co.nz
The Massey team entered the competition last year and made it to the Auckland finals with its plan to provide more education options to primary children in Afghanistan. This year the team is focusing efforts a bit closer to home. Shirin Zakeri says she ...

Passive learner now teacher

Hawke's Bay Today
The kitchen table at the home of Tiwana and Yvonne Aranui in Napier seems an appropriate place for a gathering of te reo Maori students to gather on the eve of MaoriLanguage Week. Mrs Aranui, who joined a language renaissance among those laid off ... 

Conference looks at ways to help youth to stay in education

Conference looks at ways to help youth to stay in education system and gain jobs