NZ Education News

Tongan student pleads: ‘Don’t make me a brown Palangi’

A Tongan Auckland high school student is issuing a plea to educators not to make her a “brown Palangi” – a brown-skinned person with European values. Foloiola Finau, a Year 13 student at Kia Aroha College in Ōtara, says education initiatives should aim not to “fix” Māori and Pasifika students who are seen as “failures”, but to fix “the whiteness of our education system”.

Exam student numbers low in Bay of Plenty for some subjects

Of the almost 9000 Bay of Plenty students taking NCEA exams this month, just one had to cram for tomorrow’s Level 1 Latin exam. Figures from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority showed the least popular subjects in 2018 in the Bay of Plenty were largely foreign languages.

Call for collaboration to help country’s most at-risk youth

A Northland youth services trust is calling for a more collaborative approach nationwide to effect social issues plaguing Māori youth. This comes as the cost revealed to service a single youth not engaged in education or training costs the taxpayer in excess of $250,000 annually.

Social service agencies dealing with ‘avalanche of traumatised children’

The White Ribbon riders on their staunch motorbikes have clocked the kms this week, travelling around the region with their message for men to stand up and say no to violence against women. Rachel Rose spoke with the agencies responding to domestic violence in Whanganui to find out how our community is doing and the changes that are coming.

Opinion

 

‘A little bit of brown sugar on the pile of white bread’: an essay on Māori achievement

Wellington writer John-Paul Powley pulls together Parihaka, imperialism, capitalism, and catered lunches at education conferences in a searching essay on Māori achievement.

Media releases

 

Vital importance of protecting academic freedom

TEU: The Tertiary Education Union Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa (TEU) has reiterated the vital importance of protecting academic freedom and the right of academics to conduct research and disseminate and publish the results.

$23 million to get more kids on bikes

NZGovt: Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter has announced that the NZ Transport Agency will provide $23 million over the next three years to expand the Bikes in Schools and cycle skills education to get more Kiwi kids on their bikes.

Nominations open for Teaching Council elections

NZGovt: Candidate nominations for seven members of the new Teaching Council Board are now open, with elections being held in March next year. “This is the first time, since the previous National Government stripped the rights off teachers,  they can once again directly elect members to their own professional and regulatory body,” Education Minister Chris Hipkins said.

Secondary teachers reject second Government pay offer, vote to strike in 2019

The Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) announced on Friday evening that most of its 17,000 members voted against the Ministry of Education’s offer of a 9 per cent pay rise over three years.

Education Ministry slammed for ‘corrupt’ video on teachers’ pay dispute

A video released on the ministry’s Facebook page on Thursday says a teacher called “Jessie”, who is on the top of the current pay scale, will get an $11,101 pay rise from $71,891 to $82,992 by November 2020 under the ministry’s latest pay offer.

Schools split on government taking back responsibility for $30bn in school property

For nearly 30 years since the Lange Government’s Tomorrow’s Schools reforms, school boards made up mainly of parents have run New Zealand’s 2100 state schools – but now the new Labour-led Government is looking at seizing back more control of schools.

Burgled professor case: PM called on to defend academic freedom

The prime minister has come under renewed pressure over the burgled professor case, with a coalition of academics and civil society figures calling for government action to safeguard academic freedoms and the safety of Anne-Marie Brady.

Zoning out: The boys who cut through school zone inequality

The title references the InZone programme he founded in 2011, in which he established a kainga (hostel) inside the Auckland Grammar School zone for Māori and Pasifika secondary students who wanted to attend the college but lived out of zone.

The boys would not only have access to the educational opportunities and support offered at Auckland Grammar but also its influential alumni network.

Dream catchers: How the mentored kids have fared

Individual and corporate sponsors pay $1000 a year to support a Dreamer. Gilmour says he gets “pushback” sometimes when he promotes the trust at fundraising events. “Some of them say not everyone needs to go to university; we still need people to dig ditches. Yeah, but why should brown kids be the only ditch diggers? Why can’t they go to university?”

Opinion

 

‘I shut my door and burst into tears’: Principal of one of NZ’s most challenging schools

At 9am on my first day as principal of a small primary school, I shut my office door and burst into tears. After just 30 minutes on the job, I’d been sworn at by a child, abused by a parent, and a teacher had threatened to walk out. It only got worse. I had kids breaking windows. There were four or five fist fights a day. The police were on call.

Media releases

 

Ministry of Education Statement on PPTA announcement

Ministry of Education: “We are surprised the PPTA is already threatening strike action next year as they still have four days of agreed bargaining on behalf of their members ahead of them before the end of the year, and the Ministry is ready to schedule more,” says Ministry Deputy Secretary Ellen MacGregor-Reid.

Copyright issues to be addressed

NZGpvt: Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Hon Kris Faafoi today released an issues paper marking the first stage of public consultation on changes to the Copyright Act 1994, saying all Kiwis should consider taking part.

 

Concerns raised about overseas teachers’ cultural responsiveness

Principals are concerned about whether overseas teachers will be culturally responsive to Māori and Pasifika students.

Academics want cap on university and polytechnic bosses’ salaries

The academics’ union, the Tertiary Education Union, says the highest salary at any university or polytechnic should be no more than five times the lowest salary.

Job greater lure than free fees

National says a low uptake by Māori of fees free tertiary study shows the flagship Labour policy wasn’t properly thought through.

Underfunded kōhanga reo means staff earning minimum wage

Staff at kōhanga reo (Māori language preschools) are earning minimum wage and the Māori movement is suffering from years of underfunding, an educational trust says.

Petition to appoint student rep to NZQA board aims to ensure student voice, creator says

A student affected by exam errors has started a petition to get a student appointed to the board of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

Indian teacher passionate about Māori education

An Indian teacher who tutors kids at Edukids early childhood centre is encouraging more teachers to practise Māori education. Judy Mathew has a true passion for te reo Māori.

Opinion

 

Why didn’t teachers strike under National? They were fighting to save education itself

As education spokesperson for the Green Party for nearly nine years, I spent many hours with teachers and their unions, examining legislation which undermined the quality public education system…The recent teachers strikes are a last-ditch effort from a profession with legitimate expectations of fundamental change, relief and reward.

The trivial changes to the English language prove free education is a good thing

You can’t rely on the weather but there are two things you can set your clock by in November: NCEA exams and NCEA exam controversy.

Media releases

 

Restore a decade of lost tertiary funding

Tertiary Education Union: A new report launched by the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) calls on Education Minister Chris Hipkins to restore a decade of lost tertiary education funding to at least 2.7 per cent of GDP by 2021, and to replace National’s failed market model with a public good, quality education model (1,2,3).

 

50000 expected to receive no-fee tertiary study this year

Education Minister Chris Hipkins says the Government’s fees-free policy may have helped stabilise a drop off in tertiary enrolments. About 50,000 people are expected to benefit from the policy this year.

‘Why on earth would I want to teach in NZ?’ The Kiwi teachers staying overseas

When Ben Drury was teaching at a New Zealand primary school, he was stressed, working at the weekends and “chasing his tail” in the evenings. After more than a decade in the classroom, friends started heading overseas to teach – and Drury followed suit, first to Singapore and then to Korea.

Higher childcare fees and centre closures tipped as controls tighten

A new plan to tighten quality controls on childcare centres may force some centres to raise fees and others to close.

Media releases

 

Award to fund resource for teaching stats investigations

NZCER: 2018 Beeby Award announcement.

New plan for high quality early learning

NZGovt: A bold ten year plan looks to restore the Government’s commitment to quality in early learning, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced. “Moving towards 100 percent qualified teachers in early childhood education centres and improving adult:child ratios are among some of the key proposals for change put forward by the sector and experts in the new draft ten year strategic plan for early learning,”  Chris Hipkins said.

High quality ECE – a right for every child

NZ Kindergartens: “This is our moment to get it right for young children and reset government policy in the interests of high quality teaching and learning” said Clare Wells, Chief Executive NZ Kindergartens.

 

Two degrees, no job prospects: Why Gen Z Kiwis are worried about work

Stacey Mulholland has just finished her final exams of a conjoint degree. She’s tech savvy, young, bright and keen to work in marketing. But scrolling through online ads for entry level jobs is a daunting prospect for the 23-year-old.

College to drop ‘discriminatory’ assembly seating

A Nelson school is ditching separating boys and girls at assemblies after a diversity group argued it discriminated against gender diverse students.

Students won’t be marked down in exam for not knowing what trivial means

Students who don’t know what the word trivial means won’t be marked down for concocting their own interpretation in an NCEA exam.

Media releases

172 young Kiwis head to Asia on Prime Minister’s Scholarships

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has today congratulated the 172 young New Zealanders who have been awarded prestigious Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia (PMSA) as part of the August 2018/19 round.

Ministry of Education offers $10000 to most teachers

Iona Holsted, Secretary for EDucation: It is hard to understand why the teaching unions are threatening further campaigns before the NZEI members get the opportunity to vote on the settlement offer, and while the PPTA is still in active bargaining with the Ministry.

Teachers’ unions agree to join forces in 2019 campaign

Mega strikes across New Zealand primary and secondary schools could be on the cards as two unions agree to join forces in their campaign.

Pacific leaders to come on-board for Pacific Aotearoa Vision Summit on Nov 13

NZ Govt: The Ministry for Pacific Peoples has been working in partnership with the Pacific Business Trust, Pasifika Futures, Pasifika Education Centre and Pacific Media Network to capture a collective vision to fully realize the potential of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa.

Opinion

Editorial: What’s the best way to measure success in education?

At present, most parents in New Zealand rely on the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), which records a pupil’s end grade, to see how a school is performing.

Editorial: Children’s school prizes should not be resented

The principal of Silverdale School, Cameron Lockie, says his decision to cancel the school prizegiving this year has caused a lot of discussion in its community.

Oscar Kightley: Lessons from culture-shock classrooms

Striking teachers have been a major part of the week’s news, and, writes Oscar Kightley, the complexity of their work is only compounded by the rich variety of our students’ cultural backgrounds.

 

‘Tired’ teachers question latest government offer

About 500 teachers and principals went on strike across Nelson and Tasman district on Thursday, staging roadside demonstrations in the morning rush hour, before heading to closed meetings for NZEI union members to discuss the offer put forward a week ago.

Research project aims to determine what effect schools have on students’ success

Socio-economic differences have troubled efforts to compare schools’ impact on their students – until now. How do we define success in education? A New Zealand Institute project is developing a value-added model for the NZ context.

Foreign teachers could struggle with NZ classrooms, principals warn

The Education Ministry said more than 3000 overseas teachers had responded to a recruitment campaign and about 550 had completed screening of their qualifications and were ready to be hired.

Students launch petition after being flummoxed by word ‘trivial’ in NZQA exam

Students sitting the NZQA Level 3 History causes and consequences paper on Wednesday were confronted with the word in a quote from Julius Caesar: “Events of importance are the result of trivial causes.”

Primary school cancels prizegiving: ‘Schools are not about ranking and sorting’

Silverdale Primary School, on Auckland’s Hibiscus Coast, announced the decision to cancel its prizegiving in an October school newsletter.

School children learning life lessons two years on from quake

Two years have passed since the Kaikōura earthquake struck and while life is slowly getting back to normal for children in south Marlborough, there is still progress to be made.

Media releases

Pacific language champion honoured

University of Auckland: A champion of Pacific learners, Dr Rae Si’ilata, had her work recognised at the SunPix Pacific People’s Awards 2018 last week.

NZ schools visit Antarctica

Antarctica NZ: Each year, Antarctica New Zealand partners with education provider LearNZ to create a free virtual field trip to teach New Zealand primary school children about Antarctica.

Prize for outstanding Maths teacher

ACG Strathallan: Maths teacher Krista Rabulall has been granted the 2018 Margaret and John Kalman Charitable Trust Mathematics Teaching Prize, awarded through the University of Auckland.

Opinion

Beck Vass: My daughter’s teacher has 10 jobs, she deserves better pay

The first year of school is coming to a close for our just-turned six-year-old daughter. During this year, among many things, she has learned to read.

Five ways to futureproof your child’s education

Preparing children for the jobs of the future is difficult considering we don’t even know what they will be. But we can teach them the skills to adapt, and the core educationalvalues that are timeless. Here are five ways to get started.

 

 

Research project aims to determine what effect schools have on students’ success

Socio-economic differences have troubled efforts to compare schools’ impact on their students – until now. How do we define success in education?

More and bigger teacher strikes could be on the way

On Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern asked teachers to consider the almost $700 million offer from the Government. The latest offer included a new top pay bracket and the partial removal of a cap on qualifications for some teachers from 2020.

Secondary teachers to consider new deal, but their union says ‘reject’

Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) president Jack Boyle is encouraging secondary teachers to reject the latest Government offer.

English language requirements for foreign teachers overhauled

English language requirements for overseas teachers will change from January after a review found the current requirements weren’t fit for purpose.

NCEA injustice: Huge gaps in reader-writer assistance

Up to a third of students at some schools are getting someone else to read and write their exams for them – but students needing help at many poorer schools are missing out.

The digital future of education

Students from decile 1-3 schools across the country are delving into the future world of technology as part of a new programme to heighten digital fluency.

NZQA’s digital pilot goes offline to affect English students

Students sitting a digital end-of-year NCEA exam have been affected by a server error which stopped the assessment.

Bullying in NZ schools 2nd highest in OECD

Aotearoa has the highest teen suicide rate in the developed world, which many educationalists believe to stem from bullying in schools.

NZ Treasury to work with Pasifika group to cut back obstacles

The New Zealand Treasury says it will work to reduce barriers in education, health, housing and employment for Pacific peoples in the country. A new report launched by the government on Tuesday reveals Pacific New Zealanders are contributing significantly to the economy, despite inequalities that exist.

Maori targeting social policy change – New Zealand Maori Council

New Zealand Maori Council has today announced a strategic research partnership with Massey University and its Centre for Culture-Centred Approach to Research and Evaluation (CARE). The partnership will see the joint development and co-design of evaluation frameworks around key areas of social policy and developing the evidence base to support Council when it comes to challenges facing Maori, Whanau and Communities across the nation.