15-16 December 2014

Making secondary schools great

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
In Changing our secondary schools, published by NZCER Press this week, he says a package of carefully designed and tested measures is needed to move secondary schools from good to outstanding. He hopes the book will stimulate debate and ...

Ex-principal canes slack teachers

Some teachers need to get over their victim mentality and recognise the benefit of cutting their holiday time, a leading principal says. Bali Haque is well known in education, having headed schools, a principals' association and...

Calls for major reform of the Education sector

Bali Haque, former school principal and deputy chief executive of NZQA is calling for radical reform of the education sector; how teachers are evaluated and paid and how schools and the bureaucracy are structured, but says Governments need to address socio-economic factors behind failure rates.

Parata: Kicking off our plan to lift achievement in schools

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
That's why we introduced National Standards so parents, teachers, and principals know how students are doing at school. It's why we're building new schools, and investing more money than ever before in education. And it's also why we've introduced this ...

Decile 1 school thriving

Stuff.co.nz
"We've got between 80 to 85 per cent of our children achieving at or above National Standards," she said. But there is more to it than that. Most schools are visited by the Education Review Office, ERO, every three years - Hay Park receives a four-to ...

'The children decide what to learn.'

Stuff.co.nz
First-time principal Steve McLean, who arrived at the school this year, is experimenting with student-directed learning in the junior and senior classrooms, carrying on with work begun by the previous principal and teachers. He hopes to increase it in ...

CORE to lead new Learning Technologies Advisory

CORE Education is pleased to announce their selection to lead the Ministry of Education’s Learning Technologies Advisory (LTA) initiative. The initiative is a three year long contract aimed at supporting New Zealand schools and kura to maximise the potential ...

School's out, this time forever

Stuff.co.nz
For a while, Takaka writer and mother Charlotte Squire thought unschooling children meant "doing sweet FA about their education". That was until she tried it. It happened after her 5-year-old son Kahu Marsh came home from school one day and announced: ...

New education role suits former school prankster

Stuff.co.nz
While that may be true, it's his party's introduction of charter schools, under a confidence and supply agreement with National, that has gifted him his new portfolio. Five charter schools opened this year and another four are scheduled to open at the ...

Study: Teens doing less homework

The internet could be to blame for a drop in homework hours done by teens throughout the developed world, according to a report from the OECD.

First Communities of Schools’ details released

Communities of Schools in Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago and Southland will form in the new school year.

Education New Zealand hands promotional duties to foreign students 

Following on from last year's campaign featuring a pair of Brazilian bloggers sharing their experiences of studying in New Zealand, Education New Zealand has now launched a new campaign called 'A new adventure every ...

Victoria University commended for student-focused initiative 

Victoria University of Wellington’s latest academic audit commends the University for a large number of initiatives, particularly those focusing on Māori and Pasifika students.

Professional school students offer look at new world of extreme ...

Graduate students, assisted by unlimited federal student loans, are finishing professional schools as much as half-a-million dollars in debt. New veterinarians face a particularly difficult situation of high debt and relatively ...

Victoria University commended for student-focused initiative

Victoria University of Wellington’s latest academic audit commends the University for a large number of initiatives, particularly those focusing on Māori and Pasifika students.

The Mind Lab by Unitec links with the Next Foundation

The Mind Lab by Unitec is delighted to announce it is partnering with the NEXT Foundation to deliver 800 scholarships for teachers to undertake postgraduate study in digital and collaborative learning.

Girls at Wellington East gear up for the future of IT

Connaire McKeefry, a Wellington East Girls’ College Year 12 student, is challenging her own stereotype. She is a bright young woman predisposed to studying law or commerce, but after a life changing school trip this year, she is now focussed on a future ...

Principal appointed at Middle School West Auckland

James Haggett has been appointed Principal of West Auckland’s newest school, Middle School West Auckland, opening in February 2015.

Friday 12 December 2014

Minister welcomes statutory interventions report

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the recommendations of the Review of Statutory Interventions in State and State Integrated Schools. The Working Group set up to conduct the review has recommended the Ministry of Education and schools work more closely together. “We’re committed to raising educational achievement for five out of five kids so we need to make sure all schools operate successfully. The vast majority do, but a small number experience difficulties so they need extra support. ...

New TEI Council members appointed 

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced appointments to four tertiary education institution councils, including two new council members and three reappointments. “I am pleased to welcome these high-calibre new council appointees into their roles. I also welcome the reappointment of three council members in recognition of their high quality contribution,” Mr Joyce says. “I also wish to thank outgoing council members for the valuable service they have provided.” The new appointments are: ...

New provider for $5 million digital advisory service

Nikki Kaye | Education
Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced that CORE Education has been chosen to deliver the Ministry of Education’s new Learning Technologies Advisory (LTA) Service. A total of $5 million will be invested in the service over three years, starting in 2015. “This service is about helping teachers take advantage of digital technology to enhance learning in our schools. “The world is now awash with digital resources, such as interactive, online learning tools, that can help make teaching and learning more engaging and more effective. ...

Ministry announcement of flagship communities of schools

The government's flagship communities of schools - today the Ministry of Education will name the 90 schools which will make up the first 11 collaborative hubs. From next term, these communities of primary and secondary schools will work together, with senior principals and teachers taking leadership and mentoring roles across schools, and being paid more for those roles. Two schools opting into the policy next year are John Paul College in Rotorua and St Mary's primary school in Tauranga. Their principals are Patrick Walsh from John Paul College - a former President of the Principals' Association; and Ben Fuller from St Mary's Primary.

Ministry intervening in 69 schools

NZ City
The Ministry of Education is intervening in 69 schools around the country which it believes have problems that could jeopardise the welfare of the students or the running of the school. The ministry's report reviewing statutory interventions was ...

School takeover rules to change

New Zealand Herald
The way failing schools are taken over and managed is set to change as the Ministry of Education seeks to improve how it oversees the process. Poor student achievement, dodgy spending, health and safety issues and management problems can be reasons ...

Advisory Group on Early Learning

The Minister of Education has established an Advisory Group on Early Learning. The group will consider ways to ensure a successful learning pathway for children from early childhood education through into the first years of school, and to strengthen the implementation of the early childhood education curriculum framework, Te Whāriki.

Editorial: Competition way to reduce inequality

The OECD, often described as a club of rich countries, has produced a report supporting a view that a widening gap between rich and poor within its member states is not only bad for their society but also harms their economic growth....

Higher tertiary fees lead to bigger student loans

Students are borrowing more than ever as tertiary fees rise - and those who head overseas after study are likely to take much longer to repay their loan.The annual report on the student loan scheme shows the average amount borrowed...

Report recommends look at Kohanga governance

Radio New Zealand
It has been talking with kohanga reo across the motu about what they want for Maori pre-schools. A spokesperson for the movement's National Trustboard, Derek Fox, said a copy of the report was delivered to kohanga before today's hui at Turangawaewae ...

Māori Academic Achievement To Be Celebrated In Ōtaki

A bumper celebration of Māori academic success is promised for Ōtaki this weekend with Te Wānanga o Raukawa celebrating its 2014 graduation event this Saturday.

Students share Maori language journey

The Nelson Mail
The year 13 students had been at the school from the very start. Kawana and Poutu-Smith were in kohanga reo together. Poutu-Smith said it had been a long journey but a good one. The te reo full immersion school had 54 students enrolled this year. "It's ...

Victoria University appoints new Dean of Law

Victoria University of Wellington has appointed a leading Wellington public and Māori law issues specialist, Dr Mark Hickford, as Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean of Law.

A new way of learning

Auckland stuff.co.nz
Endeavour School is Flagstaff's long-awaited primary and the learning will start from term 1 next year, with a break from the traditional single-cell classroom. Excitement was evident as the kids absorbed the bright colours and varied spaces of the new ...

Thursday 11 December 2014

Minister welcomes Ministry-NZEI agreement 

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed an agreement between the Ministry of Education and NZEI to jointly work on ways to help raise educational outcomes. Ms Parata says there will be focus on communities of learning, greater collaboration, improved transition through the education system for children, and better career pathways for early childhood and primary teachers. “I have consistently said the door remained open to NZEI after it withdrew from the work around our $359 million Investing in Educational Success initiative. ...

Education Minister claims endorsement for scheme

The Government and its biggest critic of the super teacher scheme are to work together on the initiative.

Have teachers relented over government education reforms?

The Education Minister, Hekia Parata.

Educators say OECD report backs their calls for more funding

Education leaders say a sweeping OECD report backs their calls for more funding for poor schools and more courses for poorly-educated adults.

The president of NZEI, Judith Nowotarksi

The primary teacher's union, the NZEI has strongly opposed the governments 359-million dollar plan to pay some teachers and principals more to improve groups of schools. But it has now agreed to enter talks with the government.

Need to take heed of OECD report in school funding

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The Minister of Education has signalled a review of decile funding and Ms Nowotarski says it is important that any changes to school funding help reduce the inequality gap by ensuring better targeting of resources to schools that need it most.

NZEI to work with Govt over policy

The Government and the New Zealand Educational Institute have ended their stalemate over the $359 million plan to pay some teachers and principals more to improve groups of schools.

Major new agreement to help all childrens' educational success

NZEI Te Riu Roa and the Ministry of Education have agreed to work together on a new initiative that will support children’s education at every level of their learning.

Invest in jobs training to end inequality

The OECD report on inequality and growth is a call for massive change in the way we invest in education - especially vocational education and training, says TEU national secretary Sharn Riggs.

Money for poor schools to tackle inequality

Education groups say an OECD report shows more funding for poor schools and more courses for poorly-educated adults could improve the New Zealand economy.

Minister welcomes Ministry-NZEI agreement

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“What we're doing with IES is making sure all kids have their very best shot at success by improving the quality of teaching and leadership across all classrooms and having schools work together on shared goals. “I'm delighted we've had such strong ...

Compromise reached on $359m education programme

Stuff.co.nz
The $359 million dollar Investing in Educational Success policy, aimed at improving student achievement by fostering collaboration between schools and getting top teachers to coach others, was rejected by teachers' union New Zealand Educational ...

Back-down on expert teacher plan welcomed

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
“It's particularly good to see the definition of educational success has been widened beyond narrow national standards targets to embrace the whole curriculum. A more comprehensive approach based on evidence and research is now going to be possible.

Research in using apps in primary school mathematics

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The outline will then support teacher professional learning and development in mathematics pedagogy. The main outcome aims at identifying the best practice which then can be introduced to schools and teachers initially in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato ...

'Bobbie maths' raising Pasifika achievement

Massey News (press release)
This year the Ministry of Education allocated $1.5m to enable her to continue refining the model, evaluate its success and to provide professional development to 140 more teachers in 16 South Auckland schools. Her aim is to see teachers in low decile ...

Mentoring programme helps boost Hato Petera students

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Ray, of Māori heritage, is studying towards becoming a podiatrist at AUT University and, as an ex-boarding student, he understands the demands students face today. “My job is to help them build a positive outlook on education and create a focussed and ...

Why do some children in NZ go to school without breakfast?

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
4> Schools are effectively sowing the seeds with Enviro and Sustainable School programmes, Life Educational programmes, Garden programmes and Health programmes, thus providing the right environment for every child in NZ to learn and participate in a ...

Wednesday 10 December 2014

Projects get big slice of $1.7m fund for schools

Southland Times
The initiative, co-ordinated by New Zealand Council for Educational Research, was established by the Government in 2003 with the aim of building knowledge about teaching that will lead to improved outcomes for learners. Palmerston North-based education ...

$1.7 million for research to improve student outcomes

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed funding of $1.7 million from the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) for research projects to improve educational outcomes for students. Eight recipients receive funding in the 2014 research programme for work to enhance the links between educational research and teaching and learning. “These projects are in line with what the Government is focused on in terms of raising educational achievement,” says Ms Parata. ...

Standardised education belongs in the industrial era

Interest.co.nz
The government would be hard pressed to get good measures on these and other things that parents might value. And given that only 5% of parents in a 2013 NZCER survey mentioned National Standards as an influence on their school choice, they are likely ...

Minister welcomes secondary principals’ vote

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the vote from secondary school principals on two key elements of the Investing in Educational Success initiative. Ms Parata says the new leadership role across communities of schools and the principal recruitment allowance are important parts of the $359 million plan to lift educational achievement. “The principals’ vote follows the strong support from secondary teachers for the new teaching roles we will also have when communities of schools begin operating from the first term of next year. ...

More kids off to a great start in education

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata says more kids are getting the best start to school, with early childhood education participation at its highest ever level. Ms Parata says latest figures show 96 percent of children starting school in September this year had already participated in some form of quality ECE. “That’s up from 94.7 percent in early 2012 when the Government set its Better Public Service targets. ...

First communities of schools a big win for kids

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata has approved the first communities of schools, saying they are a big win for thousands of New Zealand kids. Ms Parata says the first 11 communities will begin from term one of next year as part of the Government’s $359 million Investing in Educational Success initiative to lift educational achievement. “We’ve had 71 expressions of interest so far, and today I’ve approved the first communities of schools which together have nearly 38 thousand students.” ...

Advisory Group on early learning pathway

Hekia Parata | Education

Education Minister Hekia Parata has appointed an advisory group to help children get the best possible start to their early learning and schooling. The Advisory Group on Early Learning will recommend practical ways to ensure children have consistent teaching and learning from birth to eight years old, including helping teachers to implement the early childhood education curriculum. ...

Unregistered teachers 'no cause for concern'

More than 5000 unregistered teachers are working in New Zealand schools, according to the Teachers Council.

undaunted by charter failure

Stuff.co.nz
The ACT MP flying the flag for charter schools is standing by the rollout of more, despite the failings of one in Northland. The New Zealand charter school model is the best in the world and all state schools should have the option to be one, says ...

A new voice for classrooms: Push for learning another language

Learning another tongue should be compulsory in New Zealand schools if languages are to stop being the "poor cousin" within the education system, an academic says.Dr Adele Scott surveyed more than 300 language teachers in primary...

Push for more language variety

New Zealand primary schools should play a more proactive role in introducing students to a variety of languages, a former New Plymouth teacher says.

Schools sign up for Govt's flagship education policy

Government says it has confirmed the first groups of schools which will take part in its flagship education policy.Education Minister Hekia Parata said eleven "communities of schools" with a total roll of 38,000 students would begin...

Editorial: Uptake for Govt's school success plan encouraging

Getting the Government's Investing in Educational Success programme running in relatively quick order was never going to be easy. The concept was bound to be opposed by some teachers, while the establishment of "communities of schools"...

90 schools sign up for new education scheme

The Government has signed up the first schools to take part in its flagship education scheme, but one union says relatively low interest shows teachers and parents are not on board.Education Minister Hekia Parata confirmed yesterday...

Strong rejection of controversial $359m education scheme

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Strong rejection of controversial $359m education scheme. The Government's underwhelming launch of its controversial Investing in Educational Success scheme shows a strong rejection of the proposal by school communities throughout the country.

Schools could do more to help addicted teens

Stuff.co.nz
District Health Boards, for the first time, have achieved a national target aimed at getting drug-addicted teens the help they need, but counselors say schools are providing some of the toughest barriers to overcome. Health Minister Jonathan Coleman ...

Sex Education: teaching kids about coercion and consent

The Ministry of Education has updated the guidelines for schools following the recommendations of a health select committee - which found that "fragmented and uneven programmes" were partly to blame for the country's high teen pregnancy rate.

School counsellors call for more funding

School guidance counselors say they are battling huge workloads because more secondary school students are coming to them with increasingly serious problems.

Southland seeks male teachers

Stuff.co.nz
A Southland Stag is swapping his usual rugby field workplace for the classroom when he graduates as a teacher this week. Stags star Alex Taylor is one of six men graduating from the University of Otago College Southland campus with a Bachelor of ...

Friday 28 November 2014

NZnews is taking a break and will be back on Monday 8 December.

Funding system pushing tertiary institutions towards fraud

TEU
News that the tertiary education minister Steven Joyce is investigating alleged fraud of at least $10 million from public tertiary education is shocking, but it is the outcome of the financial pressure institutions find themselves under, says Lesley Francey. Lesley Francey says ... TEU is the union for everybody who works in tertiary education, including polytechnics, teacher education, universities, wānanga, private traininginstitutions, REAPs and other providers. We are a ...

Teachers who force-fed children can keep teaching 

Two early childhood teachers who admitted to mistreating young children in their care can continue to teach, although it will be under strict conditions.Mary Lucia Herepo Ngapo and her daughter Rebecca Rose Ngapo worked at the Te...

Health Department shuts down Auckland school 

An East Auckland school has been closed by the Ministry of Health because of an outbreak of a tummy bug.

Thursday 27 November 2014

Minister acknowledges work of sector groups

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata has acknowledged the work and commitment of groups across the education system to help lift educational achievement for all students. Ms Parata has met sector representatives, ranging from early childhood education through to senior secondary schooling, following her reappointment as Education Minister. “I meet these groups regularly and it was important to share with them my priorities for this term of Government and to hear their views about how we continue to work together to raise educational outcomes for our kids. ...

$8.6 million extra for school funding transition

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata says $8.6 million has been provided to help schools transition through decile funding changes. Ms Parata says the Government knows that schools that have moved to a higher decile rating will need time to adjust, and an 18-month transition period and additional funding will assist them. ...

Record number of bachelors degrees in 2013

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
An annual report on the performance of the tertiary sector confirms that the number of domestic students who completed bachelors degrees in 2013 is the highest ever, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says. Profile & Trends 2013, released today by the Ministry of Education, showed that last year 26,200 bachelors degrees were completed by domestic students, up 4,950 since 2010 – an increase of 23 per cent. ...

New school decile ratings released

New decile ratings for schools across the country have been released by the Ministry of Education today.More than 2400 state and state-integrated schools had their decile rating recalculated following last year's Census.

Where school deciles are on the move 

Half of all schools in the wider Christchurch area will see their decile increase next year.

Windfall for schools as decile ratings drop 

Principals say it's "party time" in many Auckland schools because the city's housing shortage has bumped about half the region's schools down the decile ratings - winning them extra state funding.Official figures, recalculated based...

More funding for lower-rated schools

3News NZ
A third of New Zealand schools have been moved to a lower decile rating, meaning they'll receive increased funding from next year. It's been seven years since the decile ratings of the country's 2400 state and state-integrated schools were recalculated.

More kids in low decile schools

NZ City
The Ministry of Education on Wednesday released its new decile ratings and 800 schools have been moved to a lower rating, meaning they'll get more funding. There are now 8000 more children in low decile schools than there has been in the past.

Schools failing to report staff to Teachers Council

Principals say some schools are breaking the law by threatening to report staff to the Teachers Council unless they resign.

Concern schools not reporting staff

Principals say some school boards are breaking the law by offering not to report staff to the Teachers Council they are in dispute with if they choose to resign and go quietly.

Problem charter school review delayed

The Ministry of Education says an ERO review of troubled Northland charter school Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru has been delayed - but will ultimately be released.

Big boost in teaching kids to read

Reading big books to schoolchildren while also sounding out words in the story has been labelled a "breakthrough" to improving literacy.Newly published research from Massey University and Auckland University found children who were...

Top jobs change at Hamilton school

Stuff.co.nz
A Hamilton school currently under a commissioner is looking for a new principal, and now also a new deputy. The week before interviews to find a new principal for Silverdale Normal School, acting principal Margaret Begley announced her resignation to ...

High schools eye agribusiness to bolster industry

New Zealand secondary schools are trialling an agribusiness programme which aims to feed more students into tertiary study to provide future talent for the industry.Some 48 students trialled a pilot curriculum at St Paul's Collegiate...

Friday 21 November 2014

Note: NZnews will be taking a short break and will be back on Thursday 27 November.

Minister welcomes vote for new teaching roles

Hekia Parata | Education
Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the vote of secondary teachers in favour of new roles being added to their collective agreement. Ms Parata says the support for the new roles of Community of School Teachers is another significant step forward for the $359 million Investing in Educational Success initiative. “I’m extremely pleased that secondary teachers have seen the exciting opportunities presented by these new teaching roles, both in terms of lifting student achievement and for their own career pathways. ...

Two education initiatives with China

Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced the signing with China of two initiatives that will further enhance educational initiatives between China and New Zealand. The bilateral education arrangements were part of the eighth meeting of the New Zealand-China Joint Working Group on Education and Training, which coincided with the visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to New Zealand this week. ...

Secondary Teachers vote for major tenet of education reforms

Secondary teachers have voted overwhelmingly to accept a major tenet of the government's education reforms. 80 per cent of PPTA members have agreed to include two new teaching roles into their collective employment contract. They're a key part of the government's 360 million dollar policy, which will see the creation of communities of schools. Angela Roberts is the President of the PPTA.

Secondary school teachers vote for new roles

Stuff.co.nz
But PPTA president Angela Roberts acknowledged there would be challenges ahead with 19.7 per cent opposing the inclusion of the Community of Schools (CoS) Within School Teacher and the CoS Across Community Teacher positions in the collective.

Anna Collett: Add passionate teachers to equal maths success

The Herald reported last week that class disruptions and a lack of exposure to algebra and geometry are some of the issues linked to New Zealand slipping from 13th to 22nd in OECD maths ratings.This was based on a three-part Ministry...

Clyde Young: How to run low-decile schools

The Tomorrow's Schools reforms that came into effect in 1989 were designed to deliver "better educational opportunities". The restructure saw the disestablishment of the Education Department as a way to remove bureaucracy and enable...

Could you pass an NCEA exam?

3News NZ
Around 140,000 students are sitting NCEA this year, and those who sat School Certificate are constantly being told what a cakewalk it is. They say it's an exam where no-one fails, and if you so much as fill out your name, you get a merit. This got the ...

School for delinquents

Stuff.co.nz
In 1905, the Seddon Government was sufficiently alarmed by delinquent young to set up a state farm at Weraroa, near Levin, as a training centre. Boys who became caught up in the court system, often for very minor offences, were packed off to the farm ...

Principal subject of council inquiry

A principal who headed a school that lost more than 55 teachers in four years is under investigation by the Teachers Council.Judd McLauchlan oversaw the high teacher turnover at Manurewa's Rowandale School, before taking the helm...

Top teachers earn recognition, bonus

A trio of Feilding teachers have been recognised as expert educators.

100% Success for Maori Trades Training Students

Scoop.co.nz (press release)
The students, most of whom have received a scholarship under the Government's Maori and Pasifika Trades Training initiative are finishing their programme of study this week having successfully completed their training whilst being hosted by Waiwhetu ...