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.

30 April and 1 May 2014

Education minister praises girls' achievements

Gisborne Herald
“I also note the significant improvement in your Maori and Pasifika students' achievement. They achieved above the national average for Māori and Pasifika students. “These results are a testament to the hard work done by the school, its teachers and ...

School ordered to stop charges

Auckland stuff.co.nz
... role models for PNG Schools play zone game to boost rolls. A secondary school has been ordered to stop charging parents for school books, photocopying and food ingredients after the Ombudsman found it to be breaching the right to a free education.

Is education in New Zealand free?

Weigh in.

IHC takes action over discrimination claims

Stuff.co.nz
The school argued the student posed a risk to other students. Grant said the case highlighted what could go wrong when a school didn't support students with special needs. "These students are legally entitled to attend their local schools," Grant said.

Education 'needs an enema'

Stuff.co.nz
Education is one of the biggest issues in this year's election for voters across the political spectrum. We've asked our readers to share what they would like to see happen in the sector. I have gone back to study towards being a teacher for this ...

What our education system needs is....

Stuff.co.nz
Charter schools, Christchurch school closures and student-loan defaulters have all been hot topics of debate. Education was the key focus of the prime minister's state of the nation address in January, with announcements including lucrative allowances ...

Best way to serve the community - don't serve truants

Marlborough Express
Judge Andrew Becroft, who recently opened Te Kooti Rangatahi ki Rahui Pokeka, a Maori based youth court in Huntly, said non-participation in school was "probably the greatest correlative to youth offending". "Learning difficulties, behavioral ...

Goalposts moved for anti-truancy programme

Auckland stuff.co.nz
It was time consuming for teachers chasing truants and the catch-up required in the classroom on their return hindered other students, she said. Frimley School principal Malcolm Dixon said there were no significant improvements with the service and the ...

Strong Start to Learning Link

There has been a positive response to learning links introduced this year between secondary schools and tertiary education. For the first time NorthTec is piloting a series of programmes that engage secondary school students in learning with NorthTec.

NZ claims two places in list of dynamic young universities

PUBLICATION OF THE THIRD ANNUAL ‘ TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION 100 UNDER 50’ RANKING - New Zealand claims two places in the hot list of the world’s dynamic young universities...

Otago University students break new ground for election

Otago University's politics students are breaking down old boundaries to directly involve themselves in this year's general election.

Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Anne Salmond: Minister wrong to trample student rights

New Zealand Herald
The current attempt by the Minister of Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, to whip the country's universities into line with Government thinking by restructuring university councils is heavy handed and misguided. There is a breath-taking arrogance in the ...

Cyber-bully students target teachers 

As students get more tech-savvy at creating offensive and defamatory websites, it's teachers who are in the firing line of online bullying.

Now open: 2015 study awards and sabbaticals 

Applications are now open for the 2015 study awards, sabbaticals and study support grants available to principals and other leaders:

• Primary principals
• Secondary principals
• Area school principals
• Senior secondary leaders

Maths whiz's website helps others to learn 

12-year-old maths whiz who is studying at university is trying to help other students learn.Tristan Pang, who attained 91 per cent in the Cambridge A Level exam, is head boy at Ficino School in Mt Eden, and is also taking maths...