14-15 May 2014

New e-books to strengthen access to sign

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata marked New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week by launching new e-books that have been developed to improve children’s access to sign language. Ms Parata says the six new e-books, developed by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with Deaf Aotearoa, are the first digital resources of their kind to be used in New Zealand schools. ...

Steady as she goes with 6th Budget Education, health, housing boost likely 

Stuff.co.nz
OPINION: Radical, tomorrow's Budget will not be. And on the basis of today's new Stuff.co.nz/Ipsos poll there is no reason for the Government to deviate from its play book at this stage in election year. Apart from some minor shuffling of support - and ...

Maori doing better at military school

Radio New Zealand
Just over a third of its 104 students are Maori, and take compulsory subjects such as Maths, English, Physical Education and Training. Vanguard Military School. Photo: SUPPLIED. The school's chief executive Nick Hyde said results from the first term ...

Catering for religion in schools

Stuff.co.nz
But that 30 minutes should be at the commencement of the school day and those opting to not attend should therefore not be required to arrive at school until that period of instruction is completed. So, let us say it is Wednesdays from 9am to 9.30am ...

Parents convicted over child's truancy

An Auckland couple convicted over their daughter's prolonged absences from primary school have been told their actions verged on negligence.In the Auckland District Court today the couple, whose names are suppressed, unsuccessfully...

Schools take parents to court over truant kids

3News NZ
"Schools are trying really, really hard and the whole community recognises that now and so it's a combined approach, not a school approach," says Mr Parsons. "This is a failure of not just of the schools, but of the whole community." Tom Parsons says ...

Schools Focus on Academia, Not Trades

A Taranaki educationalist believes schools need to do better for their non-university bound students.

Uni all about 'infinity of other worlds'

A bit of drizzle could not wipe the smiles off the faces of students and families in Victoria University's graduation parade.

Student action 'can counter bullying' | Otago Daily Times Online 

Students can reduce bullying rates at their schools by stepping in when they see it, a new study has found.

Human traffic: Otago students put carpet through its paces :: StopPress

In recent years, The University of Otago has been trying to move away from what it sees as the negative student stereotypes of binge drinking, couch-burning and filthy flats. Of course, those elements of the student culture tend ...

Failure to meet forecast student numbers costs uni - Otago Daily Times

A failure to meet forecast student numbers is hitting the University of Otago in the pocket.

Meeting to discuss pupil behaviour | Otago Daily Times Online News 

Individual schools were responsible for maintaining an environment where pupils could learn and achieve. ''Whenever concerns are raised with us, we meet the board and discuss what extra support may be required,'' she ...

US students compare systems | Otago Daily Times Online News

For a change yesterday, pupils at Taieri Beach School turned the tables on usual education practices. ... Taieri Beach School pupil Hannah Jaquiery (6) shows students from High Point University, North Carolina, the Sports Activate programme in action. Photo by Gregor Richardson. For a change yesterday, pupils at Taieri Beach School turned the tables on usual education practices. Instead of teachers teaching the pupils, the pupils shared some of their ...

Students rally for kidnapped girls 

Students from 35 New Zealand high schools are uniting to campaign for the return of 276 Nigerian school girls kidnapped last month.

Lecture will highlight the importance of arts in education

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
His productions include Lawless (1999: NZ Best Drama Award winner), Kubuku Rides (2006: Best Narrative Short Award at Memphis IndieFest), and Head Games (2012: Boston Film Festival Best Documentary). His current projects are Children First, ...

Wellington education delegation to Japan and China

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Grow Wellington's International Education Manager and 13 education providers from all over the Wellington region, including tertiary institutes and secondary schools, will visit Japan and China from May 22 to June 2. The education delegation is part of ...

Montessori student age rises - Tamahere Forum

Tamahere Montessori centre can now educate students from age 3 to 12 after opening a building to accommodate intermediate-aged pupils. Tamahere Montessori has a new intermediate building catering for children up to age 12 (Photo: Bruce Mercer, ... For the school's longest-term pupil, 10-year-old Nerissa Eddy, the new building is exciting. “We've only been here [in it] for two days.” Montessori philosophy at early childhood level was about moving children ...

Top Massey University students acknowledged

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Tonight the Palmerston North City Council will award the top four students working towards a Degree in Resource and Environmental Planning with a prize of $500 each. The prizes ... Fourth Year student John Harold also won the 'Ken Nairn' Planning Prize.

12-13 May 2014

EPIC challenge promotes careers in primary industries

Hekia Parata | Education
An innovative new competition for Year 10 students helping to promote careers in the primary industries has been launched today by Education Minister Hekia Parata and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy. The Enterprising Primary Industries Career (EPIC) Challenge for 2014 requires school students to identify different careers within the primary industries and develop a strategy promoting them to the target market of Year 10 students. ...

Encouraging improvement in employment rates for Māori and Pasifika

Tariana Turia | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
Associate Minister of Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Tariana Turia, has moved quickly to correct the tall tales being released into the public arena about the state of Māori employment. “The reality is that in the last quarter there has been an encouraging improvement in employment for both Māori and Pasifika. In percentile terms, for Māori there’s been an increase in the employment rate between the first quarters of 2013 and 2014 from 56.2% to 58.7% and for Pasifika from 51.1% to 54.3%,” says Mrs Turia. ...

Parents fundraise $357m for 'free' schooling

Parents are raising more than $357 million a year in donations and fundraising to support the "free" schooling system.Schools in wealthier neighbourhoods are bringing in an average of $740 a student each year in donations and fundraising,...

Teaching unions deny claims that english standards are poor

Teacher unions are denying Auckland University claims that the standard of English from people starting its courses is not up to scratch.

PISA testing regime under fire from education experts around the world

New Zealanders are among the 120 leading academics and teachers from 12 countries who have written an open letter criticising the negative educational impact of the OECD’s PISA tests.

Parents and teachers call for Budget to meet children's needs

A majority of teachers and parents want this week’s budget to focus on smaller class sizes and ensuring that children most in need get targeted assistance.

Auckland University entrance prerequisites to toughen

Auckland University is doubling the English literacy entry standard for all students from 2016 because some students' written work is so poor. Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland, John Morrow, and Auckland's Western Springs College, Head of Careers, Kay Wallace, join the programme.

Paul Little: Students viewed unequally

New Zealand Herald
For some teachers, the Auckland masters student's thesis reveals little has changed since the days when Maori pupils were "encouraged" into down-market technical and domestic subjects where it suited a Pakeha-run educational establishment to keep them ...

Kerre McIvor: Who could do better?

If obeying a few basic rules, going to school, reading, asking questions and asking for help are considered the norm in your house and in the classroom, there's absolutely no reason children shouldn't reach their full potential.It...

Mark Flowers: Growth driving polytechs hurt by dated public image

We face an interesting irony when it comes to applied tertiary education.Nationally and internationally we need more vocational and technical skills to build successful economies, and the Government is pushing for this. But a dark...

Poll: voters unimpressed with govt education performance

A new poll shows that voters are unimpressed with the government’s handling of education so far, highlighting the importance of getting the 2014 Budget right next week. 

The politics of evidence assessment under the spotlight

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
For her upcoming Inaugural Professorial Lecture The politics of evidence:Assessment agenda, Professor Cowie will consider the influence of powerful global testing regimes on the one hand, and of information on student learning that is generated ...

QPEC Update: NZ's Charter Schools Small and Expensive

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
NZ's charter schools are proving to be small and expensive, according to figures obtained under the Official Information Act. “The 1 March roll returns confirm a total of only 367 students were enrolled in the first five charter schools, which makes ...

CoREs Announced; Māori Research Future Uncertain

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Ng Pae o te Mramatanga (NPM) extends its congratulations to the six Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs) whose funding was announced by the Tertiary Education Commission yesterday. NPM recognises that each one of these centres will make a ...

Research Excellence Centres Impressive

The six Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs) that have been selected through the 2013/14 selection process have the potential to make major contributions to New Zealand’s future economic and social development, says Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) ...

Partnership celebrates success of Maori students at Unitec

Voxy
"The three people featured in the advertisements are deeply passionate about the power of education, and by sharing their stories we hope to inspire more Maori to engage in higher education at Unitec and give back to their whanau and communities," says ...

TEU launches funding paper ahead of budget

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The latest Te Kaupapa Whaioranga document will precede the government's budget by a week, and will give an alternative perspective for the direction parliament should take to support high quality, accessible and equitable tertiary education. A week out ...

What does your digital learning journey look like?

Techday NZ
... digital learning journey for schools, communities, teachers and students. The Ministry is also covering the cost of the development of the resources, with relief provided to schools where there is significant input required from a teacher or ...

Fast fibre keeps kids at school

Auckland stuff.co.nz
Why I teach · In our Schools · Careers. Fast fibre keeps kids at school. ALEXANDRA NEWLOVE. Last updated 05:00 13/05/2014. Henare children. PERFECT HARMONY: The Henare children performed an impressively polished version of the school's broadband-themed ...

Call for school in growing area

Stuff.co.nz
"At the moment, you can get a scenario of five kids living next door to each another, but going to different schools. We want to walk our kids to class." Papakowhai School principal Mark Smith said the issue was complicated. He said there was breathing ...

Students schooled up in money skills

Year 10 students at Aorere College ramped up their money skills by taking part in a four-day financial literacy programme. More information (including a video) on the sorted website.

Boarding school 'saved my life'

Stuff.co.nz
Not all boarding schools are such a bad thing, in fact, mind saved my life. I was not there for six years, like the writer of this article, but I really would like to contribute a positive experience. I was 11 years old when my parents sent me to ...

Ideaschool Launches a Snappy New App

EIT ideaschool staff and students are shaping up as an even tighter team with their own mobile app keeping them in touch.

Vanguard NCEA Results Reflect Outstanding Start

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Mr Hyde was commenting on Term 1 NCEA assessment results that showed Vanguard students across all demographics had significantly lifted their success rates from their previous schooling. European and Other students were achieving 93% success, up from ...

Passionate teaching staff credited for win at Competenz

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic: passionate teaching staff credited for win at Competenz Awards Engineering staff from Bay of Plenty Polytechnic were all smiles at the recent Competenz Provider Awards winning two out of a possible nine national awards. Competenz, ...

New Zealand's best pupil announced

The Dominion Post
NZQA deputy chief executive Richard Thornton congratulated the students, saying they performed exceptionally well. ''All the award winners should be very proud of themselves. Their results reflect the hard work they have undertaken during the school ...

Thursday, 8 May 2014

NZ’s top scholarship student recognised

Hekia Parata | Education
Former Auckland Grammar School student Byung-Cheol Cho has been awarded this year’s Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence at the annual NZQA Top Scholar Award ceremony held at Parliament today. Education Minister Hekia Parata congratulated Byung-Cheol on winning the award, which recognises the success of the New Zealand Scholarship student who showed the highest overall level of academic excellence in 2013. ...

Funding to target head lice in low decile schools

Paula Bennett | Social Development
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says the nation’s nits epidemic will come under attack thanks to a new Government initiative to provide free head lice treatment to families in low decile schools. Mrs Bennett joined KidsCan at Russell School in Porirua today to announce that the Government is providing funding of nearly $1 million through the Ministry of Social Development to KidsCan to tackle nits. ...

Millions in funding for new CoREs of learning

The Tertiary Education Commission has today revealed the six Centres of Research Excellence (CoRES) which will get access to millions of dollars in funding.The CoREs fund - established in 2001 to encourage the development of excellent...

Awesome teachers: Te Aoterangi Moore

New Zealand Herald
"I was lucky enough to be brought up with the Maori language and as I got older I realised how fortunate I was. I wanted to be a Maori immersion teacher so went and got my Bachelor of Education. It's challenging here, it's almost like second language ...

Teachers may refuse to pay for new Education Council

Teachers are threatening a revolt over plans to stop them electing any of the members of the body that registers and disciplines them.

Ditch 'flawed' Pisa school tests, say academics

A fixation on global school tests has led to scripted "vendor"-made lessons that harm rather than help children, a coalition of leading academics has warned.New Zealanders have lent their voice to an open letter calling for the...

PISA testing regime under fire from education experts

New Zealanders are among the 120 leading academics and teachers from 12 countries who have written an open letter criticising the negative educational impact of the OECD’s PISA tests.

Anger over changes to Teachers' Council

Teachers could strike if changes are not made to the Education Amendment Bill

.What 3 to 7 year olds need to learn - Nathan Mikaere-Wallis

Nathan Mikaere Wallis is part of the Brain Wave Trust, and X Factor Education, Christchurch. He has been a lecturer at the Christchurch College of Education, lecturing in human development, brain development, language and communication and risk and resilience. Nathan has a background of working with children in counselling settings relating to domestic violence, sexual abuse and childhood trauma.

Ministry’s move on complaints a step in the right direction

The Ministry of Education says it intends to release information about complaints brought against early childhood education services to the public, but this is just a small step in the right direction, says early childhood network ChildForum.

An Auckland co-ed primary school introduces an all boys class

Bruce Cunningham is the principal of Belmont Primary on Auckland's North Shore. This year the co-ed school has introduced an all year 3/4 boys class and is thrilled with the results. Peter Thorne teaches the class.

Pioneer Educators dive into N4L's Pond

Techday NZ
Invitations are being sent to teachers who are recognised by their peers as having an innovative and engaging use of technology in the classroom. These 'Pioneer Educators' will gain access to Pond during Term 2 (May-July). They join a small group of ...

Research to help teachers support gifted students

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
``There is no one stereotype of a gifted and talented student. Gifted and ... The students, parents and teachers all saw the All-Rounder identity as being the preferred one for having successful schooling experiences in New Zealand schools,'' Dr Tapper ...

Almost $1m being spent strengthening schools

Stuff.co.nz
The most recent work was on the school's B block - done last Christmas - and Herbert said it was a good opportunity for the school to modernise classrooms at the same time. "It works both ways. They [the ministry] satisfy their requirements for ...

Auckland Grammar student named top scholar

A former student from Auckland Grammar School has been named the top scholarship student of last year.Byung-Cheol Cho scooped the Prime Minister's Award for Academic Excellence at the annual NZQA Top Scholar Award ceremony held...

School shut down over asbestos risk

An Auckland primary school has been shut down by its board of trustees due to an asbestos risk.The decision to close Bayfield School in Herne Bay was made last night to mitigate the risk of asbestos dust from a nearby building site...

Chancellor wants Maori tertiary reps

Radio New Zealand
A Government bill proposes cutting the councils to no more than 12 members, and requiring for the first time that at least one of the members of each council is Maori. Parliament's Education and Science Select Committee is considering the bill, which ...

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Māori educationalist not shocked by teacher bias

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
These types of teacher attitudes, argues Te Rina Warren, a mathematics lecturer at Massey University, are prevalent in our schools and most Māori students will have experienced a teacher who undervalues them in theclassroom. Turner's research, which ...

Attitudes to Māori learners not new

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
It's opened up a can of worms, because unfortunately many Māori have experienced the negative impacts of attitudes that teachers bring to theclassroom with them.” “Rates of Māori achievement in education are poor. What Hana's research tells us is that ...

Childhood centres in complaints to stay secret

Public complaints made about early childhood centres will be released by the Education Ministry, but no centres will be named.

Reparations from principal who took $30k from school come up short

The sentencing of a principal and her husband who admitted to siphoning more than $30,000 from a decile one school in South Auckland was interrupted when they showed up with a reparations check $2000 short of what had been agreed.In...

Varsity copyright fight continues

A dispute over how much universities pay for using photocopied material has ended up in court.

Digitisation gives education resources a future

Techday NZ
The Education Television and Video Communications Trust (eTV) and Silver & Ballard, New Zealand's leading audiovisual preservation and digitisation company, finished the project in four months. In that time over 1400 hours of audiovisual content was ...

School begins rebuild

Auckland stuff.co.nz
The 128-year-old Bayfield School in the suburb of Herne Bay is having 70 per cent of its buildings rebuilt and work started on April 17. Principal Sheryl Fletcher says classrooms and the library, computer and staff rooms are all part of the year-long ...

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Survey of primary and intermediate schools

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
This analysis was published in a conference paper and media release in December 2013 and is available on the NZCER website at: http://www.nzcer.org.nz/research/publications/national-standards-what-difference-are-they-making. The NZCER primary and ...

Principals lament lack of resources

MSN NZ News
A study by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research says they have high or very high stress levels, up 11 per cent since the last survey in 2010.

Half of primary school principals stressed - survey

Marlborough Express
Teachers and principals of primary and intermediate schools are "being stretched too thin", a new survey suggests. The three-yearly New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) 2013 survey found 72 per cent of principals and 74 per cent of ...

Kiwi teacher morale drops

Newstalk ZB
There's no surprise from the Labour Party to the findings from a survey of primary and intermediate schools. The research conducted by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research has found 72 percent of principals say their morale is high or very ...

Principals and teachers are "stressed and losing morale"

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“This government has tried to create a 'crisis' atmosphere in schools to justify its agenda that includes National Standards, charter schools and a competitive, business approach to education,” she said. “They're trying to blame teachers for children ...

Plummeting teacher morale unsurprising

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“Every week I visit staffrooms and classrooms throughout the country where principals regularly telling me morale is the lowest they have ever seen it. “Hekia Parata's heavy-handed approach to the teaching profession is clearly evident in her current ...

Education money better spent elsewhere - parents

3News NZ
Ms Nowotarski says it's not surprising that teachers still love what they do, despite "morale… being peeled away" by the Government's reforms, which include National Standards, charter schools and "a competitive, business approach to education". "The ...

Poll shows minimal public support for new teacher roles

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
In the lead-up to the 2014 Budget, less than 6% of people think the government's plan to establish new leadership roles for some principals and teachers is a good use of increased education funding, according to a new poll. The poll, commissioned by ...

Budget 2014: $20m for 6,000 more apprentices

Steven Joyce | Budget 2014

Continuing high demand for the Apprenticeship Reboot means the Government has decided to spend up to $20 million in Budget 2014 for an extra 6,000 places as part of its Business Growth Agenda, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says. The Apprenticeship Reboot was announced in January 2013 by Prime Minister John Key alongside an overhaul of the apprenticeship scheme to get more apprentices qualified, especially in construction trades. ...

Teachers' bias against Maori pupils revealed in study

A researcher has been shocked by the racist attitudes of the teachers she interviewed for a study looking at expectations for students' success.Hana Turner conducted the survey for her thesis Teacher Expectations, Ethnicity and...

'Racist' teachers shock researcher

Otago Daily Times
Hana Turner says teachers' expectations were highest for Asian students, followed by Pakeha and Pasifika students. A researcher has been shocked by the racist attitudes of the teachers she interviewed for work looking at expectations for students ...

Students have more power to stop bullying - study

3News NZ
Research has found students have more power than teachers when it comes to stopping classroom bullying. A University of Auckland health study questioned more than 9000 high school students about bullying behaviour in their school. Associate Professor ...

Daisies shortlisted for Prime Minister's Education Award

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The awards, which were established last year, recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in early childhood education, primary and secondary schooling. www.pmawards.education.govt.nz. Daisies is the only early childhood centre on the Teaching ...

Monday, 5 May 2014

Teacher morale slides

Primary school teachers and principals are blaming the government for a drop in teacher morale and a jump in the number of schools claiming they do not have enough staff, according to NZCER's National Survey findings.

Report card: How schools are faring

Children risk losing out on the benefits of millions of dollars being spent on technology in classrooms, teachers say. Sixty per cent of Kiwi teachers believe their students' information and communications technology (ICT) use is limited because of a lack of devices such as tablet computers and poor-quality internet access. NZCER's National Survey highlights skills and training as another obstacle.

Report card for our schools - survey

A Government-funded survey, published today, finds our primary and intermediate schools are in 'mixed health'. Nicholas Jones looks at what's working and what isn't, using the findings from NZCER's National Survey Report.

Classroom harder than boardroom

In a distinguished career as a top corporate lawyer Derek Dallow was involved in his fair share of multi-million-dollar projects.But after surviving his first term as a teacher at Glenfield Primary School, he says taking charge...

Students leaving 'dark ages' for cyberspace

New Zealand students will move out of "the dark ages" and complete experimental NCEA assessments online this year.The Qualifications Authority will test an online NCEA level one mathematics test at 20 schools in September. 

Generation Z: Child of our times

I've seen the future. And of course it's already on the web.In a short, badly shot YouTube clip , a child of just 1 is filmed as he or she fiddles with an iPad, flicking the device...

Teachers express strong opposition to Teachers Council revamp

Teachers have expressed strong opposition to the government’s plans to change the Teachers Council, because of concerns it will undermine quality teaching for New Zealand children.

School donation ruling exposes the need for greater funding

NZEI Te Riu Roa supports the Ombudsman’s ruling that a public education must be free.

Irwin on wananga board

waateanews.com
Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce has appointed prominent Maori educationalist Kathie Irwin to the board of Te Wananga o Aotearoa. Dr Irwin's career has focused on Maori research, development and scholarship, including roles at Victoria ...

'Cold case' truants disappearing

Truancy services in Northland were so concerned about 13 "cold case" truants who disappeared from school for a year they considered filing missing persons reports.

Intensive teacher training pays off for Otumoetai

New Zealand Herald
EXCELLENCE: Otumoetai Intermediate School principal Henk Popping says a focus on developing teacher quality contributed to the school becoming a finalist in the inaugural Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards. Six years of hard work has paid off ...

Friday, 2 May 2014

New TEI Council members appointed

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced 10 appointments to five tertiary education institution councils, which include seven new council members. “I am pleased to welcome these high-calibre council appointees into their new roles,” Mr Joyce says. “These appointments are to the council of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and to four councils in the polytechnic sector, and are intended to reinforce the leadership of those polytechnic councils. ...

Schools worried by fee decision

Stuff.co.nz
A secondary school has been ordered to stop illegally charging parents for school books, photocopying and food ingredients after the Ombudsman found it in breach of the right to a free education. The decile 8 school was ignoring rules set out by the ...

Ombudsman on school charges for curriculum-related items

The Ombudsman has released his opinion on a complaint about a secondary school’s practice of compulsorily charging for workbooks and other curriculum-related items. He found that the school had acted unreasonably, and contrary to the entitlement ...

Education ministry wants to work with IHC

MSN NZ News
The Ministry of Education wants to work with IHC on their concerns about the treatment of disabled children in schools, but says the intellectual disability service provider has refused to meet with them. IHC has filed a complaint against the ministry ...

University of Waikato moves up rankings

University of Waikato again moved up the list of the top 50 young universities around the world, according to recently-released rankings.

Kids embrace learning style

Stuff.co.nz
Another class boasts a mix of ages. Principal Trish Plowright says the unique composition classrooms which run alongside more traditional year-group classes means all students' learning needs are catered for. She says the idea was born from necessity, ...

NIE Launches International Student Counselling Centre

A free Counselling and student mentoring assistance agency has been launched by the National Institute of Education in Auckland, a division of the National Tertiary Education Consortium.

Engaging high school students in humanitarian causes

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
International humanitarian organisations should focus on raising awareness of international issues with high school students rather than always persuading them to fundraise for their cause, new research suggests. Victoria University of Wellington ...

Nelson Marlborough Academy Fills The Gap

Five colleges and the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) recognised the need to provide clear pathways for students leaving school and considering tertiary training or employment in the region.