Thursday, 1 August 2013

Charter schools: Govt negotiates with final four

The Government is believed to be negotiating with a final four organisations over their proposals to set up charter schools, including a military prep school for teens which Act leader John Bank's son attended.APNZ understands the... 

Passions high over Bible in schools

Schools are going through the "hurtful" process of choosing to drop religious instruction, with boards of trustees working through passionate arguments from parents on both sides of the debate.The Herald was flooded with correspondence...

drop-out rates clear in new data

Stuff.co.nz
According to figures from the Tertiary Education Commission, released to the Waikato Times under the Official Information Act, an average of 4854 first-year students have dropped out each year between 2010 and 2012. Although the University of Waikato ...

Bad behaviour costly

A group of students with severe behavioural problems has cost taxpayers more than $10 million over four years, but a new support service is helping to keep them in mainstream schools. 

4700 school suspensions bring call for a new approach

Schools have handed down more than 4,700 suspensions in the past 18 months, with one high school using the punishment more than 100 times.The numbers have prompted a call for a major overhaul of the way schools keep difficult children... 

Law group wants change after claims of illegal expulsions

Schools are illegally pressuring difficult students to leave and an independent authority needs to be set up to review expulsions and exclusions, a community law advocate says.The push for change comes as figures obtained by the... 

Partnership Schools to lift education standards

Indian NewsLink
Partnership schools are targeted at lifting achievement in low decile areas and disadvantaged communities that have been underserved by the education system. These are groups such as Maori, Pasifika, low socio-economic and special needs children. 

Charter School Overreaction Narrow Minded

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Charter School Overreaction Narrow Minded. Conservative Party Leader Colin Craig recommends David Shearer listens to Sir Ken Robinson's TED talk on schools and creativity, and considers a more broad minded approach to Partnership (Charter) schools. 

NZEI Te Riu Roa complaint forces charter schools revelation

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The Ministry of Education has finally been forced to reveal the names of organisations who have shown an interest in setting up a charter school in New Zealand. The release follows a complaint from NZEI Te Riu Roa to the Ombudsman earlier this year ... 

School misses out on more funding

Stuff.co.nz
The school would also have had to attract more Maori, Pasifika, low-income and special needs pupils, whose better achievement the Government has said are the targets of partnership schools. Peter said "we already have those groups and they have ... 

Pacific students' performance lift strategy focus

Otago Daily Times
The ''Pacific Strategic Framework (2013-2020)'', which had been about two years in the making, was launched at an event attended by representatives from the Pacific community and the Ministry of Education at Otago University yesterday. Deputy vice ... 

Wireless school opens i-library

Stuff.co.nz
The school is the first in West Auckland to introduce tablets into the classroom. Year 9 students received Samsung Galaxies which they can take home and use for schoolwork and homework. In March students attended workshops with Waitakere Central ... 

Open access policy a first for university

Techday NZ
... alliance, and the potential to support literacy and the joy of reading in our district,” says Carnaby. “We want to connect to the 26 schools in the Selwyn district and extendlearning opportunities through both the University and the public ... 

Engineering students use technology to clean up environment

A smartphone app and website which the public can use to report incidents of environmental pollution have been developed by students at Victoria University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science. 

Students get on the ground access to region’s top biz minds

The Wellington Regional Strategy (WRS) Committee has teamed up with Victoria University and Grow Wellington to introduce a new initiative that will see students gain onsite industry experience as part of their studies by interviewing the region’s top business ... 

ACE Place – Building Learning Communities

What did you learn today? It’s a question often asked of children at the end of the school day but one we rarely ask an adult. ACE Aotearoa Director, Jo Lake says this is surprising given that learning doesn’t stop once people leave school or ...

Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Special education school transport complaints process improved

Nikki Kaye | Education Associate Education Minister 

Nikki Kaye has today announced a new complaints process and more accessible information for the special education school transport assistance (SESTA) services. This is one of the first outcomes of a review carried out by the SESTA Reference Group which is made up of representatives from the education sector, families who use SESTA services, and transport operators. The group has also developed an accessible brochure (available from 2 September) that will help families have better information about the service. ... 

Parents and teachers will welcome Labour's rejection of charter schools

Both parents and teachers will welcome Labour's announcement that it will speedily repeal charter school legislation if a Labour-led government is elected in 2014, NZEI Te Riu Roa President Judith Nowotarski says. 

Questions and Answers - July 30

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
... the architect of that policy we all know is not the Labour Party caucus, but Tony Alexander of the BNZ, and this is what Tony Alexander says about the very problem that the member is saying is a problem: “Here is a growing visceral perception that ... 

Revealed: Hand of God in schools

One in three state primary and intermediate schools teaches religious instruction, according to a survey which has triggered a debate over what children are being taught - and the value of it.The survey, sent to more than 1800 schools,... 

Massive Day for Maths in NZ

Primary and secondary school students in New Zealand will join hundreds of thousands of students from about 40 countries on Thursday 1 August to take part in the 36th annual Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank. 

Six things Kiwi kids should learn

There are some important skills New Zealand young people are missing out on, making them unprepared for the real world.

Truants taking advantage of new system

Small-town schools are paying the price for the Ministry of Education's new attendance service by funding their own truancy staff to round up students. 

Learning goes both ways

Auckland stuff.co.nz
STUCK IN: St Cuthbert's College student Cerys Chau was keen to sign up to volunteer with children at Ronald McDonald House for a second time. From left: Fletcher Hautapu,... "The way the students interact with the children is great. They don't just ... 

Uni building shuts because of quake risk

Almost 40 University of Canterbury staff and postgraduate students were moved out of their building today after engineers found it did not meet building code requirements. 

Lincoln University opens up access to research outputs

In a first for a New Zealand university, Lincoln University has implemented an open access policy, allowing staff and postgraduate students to make their research outputs including research data, teaching materials and public records, openly and freely ... 

Helen Clark to deliver lecture at The University of Auckland

The Rt Hon Helen Clark will present the 2013 Robert Chapman Lecture at The University of Auckland next month. Helen Clark became administrator of the United Nations Development Programme in April 2009 and the first woman to lead the organisation.

Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Labour promises to repeal charter schools

MSN NZ News
Labour is promising to scrap the government's controversial partnership schools if elected to government next year. Legislation to set up the state-funded, privately operated schools passed in June, and the government is expected to announce the first ...

Hundreds of kids dropping off school rolls

Hundreds of Waikato children disappear from the education system each year after failing to be enrolled in school - and, in some cases, authorities have no idea where they are. 

Call for more Maori male teachers

Radio New Zealand
The head of Maori studies at Rutherford College in Auckland says more should be done to encourage Maori males to become teachers. William Flavell joined the secondaryschool in 2012 after holding the same position at Whangarei Boys' High School. 

Parents putting holidays first

Wairarapa Times-Age
A Ministry of Education survey found about 62,000 students nationwide were absent from school for all or part of a day during an average week, with 15,000 skipping school without justification. Wellington schools - which include Wairarapa - had an ... 

Treasury-sponsored tertiary student workshops address long-term options for ...

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The Treasury, in conjunction with the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, is sponsoring a series of nationwide workshops starting in Dunedin tomorrow which will address long-term options to maintain prudent Crown finances in the decades ahead. 

Discipline for outspoken teacher

A teacher at a Maori immersion school who told off a student for reporting her abusive grandparent to Child, Youth and Family (CYF), has been found to have breached professional standards. 

Students get an insight into the world of IT

Auckland stuff.co.nz
The Papatoetoe High School student was one of 32 young people taking part in the Business Career Experience programme at Manukau Institute of Technology. The programme aims to give high school students an insight into the world of information ... 

Lincoln University rural leader programme addresses shortage

Lincoln University’s Kellogg Rural Leaders Programme is helping to shape the future of agribusiness and rural affairs in New Zealand, with applications opening 1 August for aspiring leaders to complete the course in 2014. 

Pupils busy buzzing with bees

Stuff.co.nz
Dawson Primary School's new white suits mean the students can enter their bee enclosure and extract honey without any risk of being stung. ... Student Aashantaey Tosua says it's helped her to learn a lot about bees and their place in the eco-system.

Monday, 29 July 2013

Caution urged as schools resume

NZ City
The Ministry of Education says schools in Wellington and Marlborough did not suffer any structural damage in the series of earthquakes, including a magnitude 6.5 which hit in the Cook Strait during the holidays, and will be open on Monday. NZN.

Truant 'no go' areas keeping kids in school

Manawatu's truant-free zones appear to be doing their jobs as the latest figures show fewer school children skip school here than their peers in other parts of the country. 

Thousands skip school

Hawke's Bay Today
While absence rates have remained stable in recent years, principals warn that parents taking advantage of cut-cost holidays during the school term are disrupting their children's education. A Ministry of Education survey shows 62,000 students ... 

International students' visit will help restore confidence in Chch

guide2.co.nz
As part of their Christchurch and Kiwi experience we want them to be able to make the most of a wonderful educational and life opportunity so they can return home and tell others about what we have to offer here. "The relationships we establish with ...

 

Editorial: Responsible parents don't make kids miss school

As schools resume today after their winter break they will have learning programmes prepared for all classes for the coming term. They ought to be able to expect the pupils to be present for the whole programme, barring illness. Unfortunately,... 

Two worlds of school rugby: Five schools spending $400,000 on 1st XVs

Schoolboy rugby in Auckland has lost any notion of egalitarianism and the world famous 1A competition is now divided along financial lines.The Herald's investigation into First XV rugby can reveal that five schools - Auckland Grammar,... 

Understanding special education from the perspectives of Pasifika families

The aim of this report is to identify the strengths of current service provision; barriers to accessing SE services for Pasifika; and the extent to which cultural perspectives on disability and SE and the low numbers of Pasifika professionals affected engagement and satisfaction with SE services for Pasifika families. 

Severance of $300k demanded

Leaked emailsreveal the former boss of one of the country's largest public tertiary institutions is seeking more than $300,000 in severance pay. 

University of Canterbury welcomes Ministerial appointments

University of Canterbury Chancellor Dr John Wood has welcomed the announcement of four Ministerial appointments to the University of Canterbury Council. “It’s a supportive mix blending current high-performing appointees with new appointments ... 

Whitireia Top Achiever

Whitireia continues to achieve at the very top of course and qualification achievement with scores of 83% and 78% respectively. The Education Performance Indicators are published annually by TEC and rank providers to assist prospective students to make ... 

Waiariki Institute of Technology performance 2012

Latest Government statistics have confirmed Waiariki Institute of Technology is among the fastest improving tertiary providers in New Zealand. 

Witt appoints new CEO

Stuff.co.nz
The former Sacred Heart Girls' College student is of Ngati Rahiri hapu o Te Atiawa descent. ''My roots are Taranaki, but my vision for Witt is global,'' she said. She is a graduate of Victoria University and holds a post graduate diploma in business ... 

Centre appoints international experts

Victoria University’s Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research has established a new International Advisory Board. 

Chief Executive Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki

Barbara George has been appointed chief executive of the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT). Ms George is currently the chief executive of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, one of Australia’s major performing arts companies, with a significant ... 

Musician, festival director joins CPIT

Liam Ryan joined CPIT’s Department of Creative Industries as the new Performing Arts Manager this week. He will lead the Jazz School and National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) degree programmes, CPIT is delighted to announce today.

Friday, 26 July 2013

New appointments to TEI councils

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced appointments to seven tertiary education institution councils, which include nine new council members across university and wānanga councils and a new appointment to the Open Polytechnic council. “I am pleased to welcome these high calibre council appointees into their new roles and to welcome the reappointment of a number of council members in recognition of the high-quality governance they have been providing to these institutions,” Mr Joyce says. ... 

Ministry ordered to release names of charter school applicants

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the Education Ministry release the names of 36 applicants wanting to set up charter schools.In a report released today Ombudsman Professor Ron Paterson has ruled there were no grounds for... 

Destiny Church declined for charter school

3News NZ
"We've been in the process all year, and shaping up a robust proposal with all the other applications," church spokesman Richard Lewis told NZ Newswire. "It's disappointing to get the news that it's been unsuccessful." Referred to by the Government as ... 

62,000 kids absent from class

Parents who remove their children from classes to take cheap flights and holidays are part of the reason 62,000 Kiwi kids miss school each week.Principals say rich and poor families are pulling their youngsters from school for travel... 

Shortening the skills gap

New Zealand Herald
More needs to be done to employ Maori and Pacific Islanders, more job-based training should to be put in place, and employers will have to work harder to retain their best staff. These are the views of Phil O'Reilly, chief executive of the peak ... 

Growing Support for Rural Schools

Rural schools around the country have been able to boost resources thanks to the help of farmers and fertiliser company, Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate Ltd. 

SIT's low performance uncovered

Stuff.co.nz
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) released its 2012 performance information this week which measures tertiary providers against four educational performance indicators (EPIs) including course completion rates; qualification completion rates; ... 

Otago University graduates to the top

The University of Otago has comprehensively topped other New Zealand universities in the latest league tables measuring student performance.The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) released its 2012 performance information tables... 

Waikato kids embrace early childhood education

Waikato Times
Overall, 95.8 per cent of Waikato children have participated in early childhood education(ECE) by the time they start school, just above the national average of 95.7 per cent. While participation remains lowest for Maori (92.1 per cent) and Pasifika ... 

Industry Training Continues to Perform Well

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“The different dynamics that operate between classroom-based learning and on the job training in an actual workplace make it difficult, if not nonsensical, to have the same performance criteria across all tertiary education institutions.” The ITF ... 

Environmentally friendly school gets special award

Stuff.co.nz
The competition underwent a major overhaul this year and drew sponsorship from businesses, including Fonterra, Dow Agrosciences, Port Taranaki, Methanex and the Taranaki Daily News, in the education section. TRC chairman David McLeod said the ..

Thursday, 25 July 2013

SIGNPOST: Workplace skills are learnt in classrooms

BDlive
According to educationist Jane Gilbert, chief researcher of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, the present education system is a product of the industrial age, which required a “production-line model of education”. That equates to ...

Sport igniting passion for life and learning

Otago Daily Times
A recent report from the NZCER (New Zealand Council of Education Research) stated that ''the students see these [leadership] capabilities and skills as very relevant for their life and future work with others. "All could describe how they had ...

Tertiary Performance Indicators released

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister of Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce has welcomed the release of the 2012 Education Performance Indicators, which show continued strong performance by tertiary providers for their students. “The changes we have made to the tertiary education sector to reward performance, instead of just getting “bums on seats”, are continuing to work,” Mr Joyce says. “More students are staying in study, achieving credits and qualifications, and progressing further.” ... 

Universities improve completion rates

3News NZ
Universities and polytechs are reporting improved qualification completion rates. TertiaryEducation Minister Steven Joyce says changes the Government made to reward performance instead of funding institutions on a "bums on seats" basis are working. 

UCOL student success on the up and up

The Tertiary Education Commission’s latest Tertiary Education Performance results show the number of students who successfully complete courses at UCOL is continuing to increase. 

Otago Ranks Top In All TEC Performance Indicators

The University of Otago is ranked top of all New Zealand universities in the latest annual Educational Performance Indicators (EPIs) released by the...

Targeted tertiary study funding finds favour

When it comes to fixing skills shortages in IT, engineering, technology and trades, 73.8 per cent of those who responded to the Herald 's CEO survey wanted to see more funding for tertiary education in subjects relevant to the skills... 

Principals are top targets of assault

School principals are six times more likely to face violence than the general population, with students and parents dishing it out equally, according to new research in Australia. 

Making maths fun

Techday NZ
“It brings together the learning needs of the kids with new technology,” says Littlewood. “I feel strongly that it's not trying to teach, but that it gives teachers an additional tool to use. It reinforces the learning that is occurring in the ... 

New Education Programme Designed to Transform Construction

The creation of buildings that are net zero (energy, water and waste), built from non-toxic, locally sourced materials and that are beautiful and inspiring is the goal of a new education programme for all construction professionals. 

Teachers trucking on

Stuff.co.nz
Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association has launched the Play Truck, a mobile early childhood education centre, in a bid to change the way people think and feel about pre-school. The vehicle parks in various spots around Manurewa and Takanini and ... 

Unitec's Department of Computing makes innovative alliance

Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland and Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) in Japan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will enhance co-operation between the two institutions by offering a dual doctoral programme.

Kohanga board pays back $800000

Radio New Zealand
The Kohanga Reo National Trust Board has moved quickly to pay back nearly $800,000 of funding it shouldn't have received. Its chief executive, Titoki Black, will not be returning to her senior role following an internal audit of the organisation in April.

Witt overspend put at $103,000

Witt has blown its budget by more than $100,000 in part as a result of high-profile managers leaving the polytechnic.

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Capital's schools unaffected by quake

NZ City
The Ministry of Education expects schools to re-open as scheduled following Sunday's large tremor, with most school buildings appearing to have escaped any major damage. Two Wellington secondary schools and one Marlborough school now have ... 

Teacher training in demand

A teacher training scheme fast-tracking university graduates into classrooms has more demand for participants than it can fill.