ARCHIVES | MARCH 2011 - NOVEMBER 2017

Education Review explores the big issues in New Zealand education, from early childhood through to tertiary education.

Achieving.jpg The National Library’s intention to phase out its provision of print non-fiction books in favour of digital resources has dismayed many in the education sector and the wider public.

We asked prominent people from within the sector what they perceived to be the biggest challenge currently facing New Zealand education. Here is what they had to say.

The recent ‘lift and shift’ of Careers NZ to the Tertiary Education Commision has generated ripples throughout the education sector. Jaylan Boyle spoke to two high school careers teachers to gauge the mood on education street.

From 100 isolated primary kids to 23,000 enrolments, Te Kura Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura) – formerly The Correspondence School – has a long tradition of adapting to meet the changing needs of the New Zealand school system.

This year 10 Kiwi schools received funding to strengthen their China sister school relationships. Education Review looks at how these relationships were formed, how they have been nurtured, and the value they bring to the schools and their wider communities.

JUDE BARBACK talks to Oropi School principal Andrew King about the Little Diplomats programme, which has helped its students to build their intercultural competencies and the school to build its relationship with its sister school in China.

A new report from the Asia New Zealand Foundation reveals that fewer school leavers think Asia-related skills and knowledge are important – a trend that experts describe as “alarming”.

Growing good global citizens is becoming an increasingly important focus for schools. But how do schools know if they’re hitting the mark? JUDE BARBACK looks at the many ways in which schools are encouraging their students to be internationally capable and the scope for measuring this. 

CHRIS HENDERSON believes global competencies are the foundations for our future.

Massey University’s TOM NICHOLSON discusses the importance of phonics in helping children become better spellers – and why spelling is important.

Drs JO FLETCHER and KAREN NICHOLAS set out to discover how primary schools are using digital technologies in their year 7 and 8 mathematics classrooms. Their research uncovered some interesting findings from how equity and maintenance of devices was managed to the need for more professional development to the way ICT was used to support learning.

We are starting to think of education as more of a continuum, rather than segmented into separate stages. An increasing number of partnerships between secondary schools and tertiary education organisations have emerged in the last decade, signalling a more integrated and connected system. Here, Education Review looks at a recent example of secondary-tertiary collaboration. ara institute

KIMBERLY BAARS discusses the benefits of bringing a maker-centred approach into the classroom.

All schools strive to engage with their communities. Some do it better than others. Here, JUDE BARBACK looks at an outstanding example of school-iwi partnerships in Ruapehu.

While the news that digital technologies is to be included in The New Zealand Curriculum has been broadly welcomed, many believe the announcement falls short in a number of ways. By JUDE BARBACK.

Young people are our most avid consumers of digital technology but increasingly they are learning how to go behind the screen and learn about coding and content creation. JUDE BARBACK looks at some initiatives beyond the curriculum that are designed to open teachers’ and students’ eyes to new opportunities.

Massey University’s PROFESSOR TOM NICHOLSON says we need to redesign the literacy that is taught in our schools so that it works for those in lower socio-economic communities. 

The good news for school leavers quietly freaking out about the costs involved with their next move – be it further study, training or diving into the workforce – is that there are literally thousands of scholarships, grants and awards out there to help ease the load.

Two Waikato University academics have secured funding to support their popular Roboshops – school-based workshops that teach children the basics of coding and robotics.

JUDE BARBACK catches up with JETmag editor Miah Kennett about the realities young people are facing as they transition from school to work, training or higher education.

JAYLAN BOYLE dissects the ongoing debate over religious instruction, and whether it still has a place in New Zealand’s state schools.

MIKE BROWN and SIMON BEAMES discuss their new book, Adventurous Learning: A pedagogy for a changing world, which presents a framework for enhanced learning experiences.

Treemendous, Garden to Table and Enviroschools programmes are transforming schools around the country – and they’re providing much more than just aesthetic benefits.

Fulbright Scholar and Northcote College teacher DAVID TAYLOR’s research in New Zealand and the United States found that initiatives to encourage better parental involvement in students’ reading not only resulted in improved reading habits, but also had significant additional benefits.

SUE TAYLOR discusses how priority learners can achieve better outcomes through focused, high-impact mathematics instruction from their own classroom teacher than from intervention programmes.   

DR ROSEMARY ERLAM discusses the shift in teaching languages to the internationally recognised, task-based language teaching approach and how New Zealand language teachers can use this approach effectively.

How well aligned are our ECE and school sectors? JUDE BARBACK looks closely at a child’s transition from early childhood education to school in New Zealand.

SHANE KENNEDY discusses why he believes rhetoric is masking poor education in New Zealand.

The opposition to charter schools intensifies with the announcement of the first five partnership schools in New Zealand. JUDE BARBACK weighs up the arguments as the new schools prepare to open their doors.

Amid a fairly tumultuous year for New Zealand education lurk many, many examples of positive, inspiring learning initiatives.

Principal WENDY KOFOED shares how a collaborative teaching inquiry model at Newmarket School is helping to raise achievement levels of Māori and Pasifika students.

The 10th anniversary of NCEA reveals there is still division in the ranks, with many elite schools offering alternative options for students.

JANET HUNTER explores the ins and outs of the Resource Teacher: Literacy service and how it can make a real difference to students’ literacy learning.

Education Review Office’s evaluation report on New Zealand schools was a dose of reality to the sector. With an education system suggested to now be less-than-world-class, what is it going to take to raise student achievement to the levels required? JUD

*The decision to make National Standards results public has angered many schools and unions. But will it help lift performance as predicted?*

JUDE BARBACK looks at some of the pros and cons of international schools.

If there was a league table for international education systems, New Zealand would likely rank near the top. Will the introduction of primary school league tables see our ranking plummet?

Education Review asks six new student leaders to reflect on their New Zealand education as they approach the end of their secondary schooling.

Jenny Poskitt advises teachers how to get to grips with Overall Teacher Judgments, to help them get the best out of National Standards for their students.

Whose job is it to instil values in our young people? The family’s? The school’s? The teacher’s? Everyone’s? JUDE BARBACK spins the moral and ethical compass.

The introduction of national standards in literacy and numeracy in primary schools is creating concern among primary teachers, principals and their union.

*KEREN BROOKING draws lessons from two research projects with two very different groups of difficult-to-teach students*

We talk to an overseas-trained teacher about the adjustment to life in a New Zealand classroom

It’s the school that is not a school – the tertiary high school. JOHN GERRITSEN reports

Education Review asks education leaders to share their thoughts on the big issues looming for the school sector this year

Adult learners return to the classroom more than 30 years after their own indifferent high school years. Carol Walden asks can they cope?

BOB SULLO looks at options teachers have for awakening student motivation.