ARCHIVES | MARCH 2011 - NOVEMBER 2017

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

While schools are pleased to see the back of the decile system, many believe a funding boost is what is needed most.

Teachers are welcoming Labour's plans to invest an extra $4 billion into education to address five main areas: learners at the centre, barrier-free access, quality teaching, public education and future-focussed education.

An early childhood centre in Auckland hoping to using digital technologies to support second language learning is among the thirty three new innovative teaching projects in schools and early childhood education centres will be able to get underway thanks to funding from the third round of the $18 million Teacher-led Innovation Fund (TLIF).

Following the pay equity settlement for aged care and community support workers, early childhood teachers are looking to follow suit. Union NZEI Te Riu Roa is launching a new claim for pay equity for early childhood teachers and staff.

Industry training got a boost today as the Government announced an additional $7 million investment over the next four years.

The sector has welcomed some targets of the tertiary education provision from this year's Budget but pointed out many gaps as well.

Increased and targeted operational funding, along with the promise of new schools and classrooms, has done little to satisfy the sector that the Government is thinking long-term or delivering enough to make up for funding shortfalls of the past.

While the early childhood education (ECE) sector has praised initiatives in yesterday’s Budget to support services with children from benefit-dependent households and children with special learning needs, representative bodies say overall the funding package is tantamount to a cut, due to it not keeping pace with inflation.

In the run up to Budget Day, Education Minister Nikki Kaye has announced a number of changes affecting initial teacher education (ITE) that are aimed to improve the supply and quality of teachers.

Calls to abolish University Entrance, introduce interest on student loans, and develop better careers education were among the recommendations found in the Productivity Commission’s final report on New Zealand’s tertiary education system, released today.

DR JOHN BOEREBOOM says that using a summative measure of assessment against outcome measures like National Standards and NCEA is unfair and too simplistic to adequately fund schools as these measures provide little information on student progress and whether schools are doing a “good job”.

A $35 million investment from the government is expected to attract world-leading entrepreneurial researchers to New Zealand to further strengthen our universities and our broader fast-growing innovation ecosystem.

Education Review takes a look at what this year's Budget means for the ECE, schooling and tertiary education sectors.

The Minister of Education’s suggestion at a new funding system driven by achievement data has raised concerns that it will increase inequality among New Zealand schools.

Teacher unions are appalled at the Government’s announcement of a third round of applications for new charter schools to open 2017, after Education Minister Hekia Parata had indicated there would be no further rounds announced this year.  

Schools that have applied for a review of their decile recalculation will be advised of the outcome over the next ten days.

Budget delivers a further $113 million in funding for tertiary education and skills training.

The PPTA is considering placing payment of professional certification fees by the Ministry of Education in the Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement. By ANGELA ROBERTS.

In today’s pre-Budget speech Prime Minister John Key said the Government has allocated $244 million for new schools and classrooms.

The Ministry of Education has received over 200 applications for the first round of the $10 million Teacher-led Innovation Fund.

The Ministry of Education disputes the NZEI Te Riu Roa’s claim that the Investing in Educational Success (IES) initiative favours high-decile schools.

A team of Massey University education policy specialists has highlighted 11 areas of concern about the Government’s $359 million Investing in Educational Success (IES) programme.

An Education Review Office report released yesterday revealed that New Zealand schools are becoming more inclusive. The findings have been welcomed by the sector however some groups say more funding is needed to support students with special needs, so that all schools can become fully inclusive.

Last weekend saw developments in both the Government’s Investing in Educational Success (IES) policy and primary teachers’ union NZEI Te Riu Roa’s Better Plan Joint Initiative with the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry of Education has announced Future Schools Partners as the preferred bidder for a public private partnership (PPP) to build four schools.

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.

A new survey shows that 13 years of state education for a child born in 2015 could cost Kiwi families up to $37,676.

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.

Following the release of the latest decile ratings, Minister of Education Hekia Parata has confirmed her intentions to review the 25-year old decile system.

The Ministry of Education has begun informing schools of the latest recalculation of school decile ratings, with all schools expected to know their new decile by 20th November.

Primary teachers’ union the NZEI Te Riu Roa has released a new online tool that allows schools to compare benefits of the Government’s $359 million Investing in Educational Success (IES) policy with other options, such as more resourcing for teacher aides and smaller classes.

The contentious issue of school funding is on the agenda of the Post Primary Teachers’ Association’s annual conference, currently underway in Wellington.

STEVE THOMAS continues the debate about Labour’s class size policy, clarifies some of the issues around education funding and class sizes, and raises new questions.

Breaking newspaper While secondary school principals are working alongside the Ministry of Education to move forward on the Government’s $359m Investing in Educational Success (IES) initiative, primary school principals have voted against the scheme.

The PPTA’s Secondary Principals’ Council and Secondary Principals’ Association will vote on an interim agreement that introduces some key changes to the Government’s Investing in Educational Success (IES) initiative.

PPTA president ANGELA ROBERTS asserts that there has been a lot of misunderstanding about Labour’s class size policy announcement from the 'experts' and commentariat.

The Government’s proposed Investing in Educational Success scheme has been debated in detail. Now, academic STEVE THOMAS takes a critical look at Labour’s proposed education sector funding in the lead up to the election.

PETER COOLBEAR, director of Ako Aotearoa, discusses incentivising established good tertiary teaching practice to help meet government targets for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Associate Professor JOHN CLARK from Massey University’s Institute of Education suggests the Government has lost sight of free education and that there are more appropriate methods than parent donations to fund schools.

Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) President ANGELA ROBERTS outlines what has changed with the Government’s proposed Investing in Educational Success policy since the announcement was made in January, and why the sector should support it.

Massey University Associate Professor JOHN CLARK takes a closer look at the proposed Investing in Educational Success (IES) initiative and finds the problems it hopes to solve to be more complex than IES can manage.

Yesterday's announcement was a masterstroke by Prime Minister John Key's National Government. It refocussed the education debate on positive action, raising student achievement, giving teachers and principals something more to which to aspire, and most importantly, addressing the need to spread quality teaching more evenly across deciles and regions. But will the initiative work?

Education featured prominently in Budget 2014, with Education Minister Hekia Parata announcing new spending of $858 million over four years and the remainder of this year.

In the lead up to this year’s Budget, Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced a number of changes affecting initial teacher education (ITE) that are aimed to improve the supply and quality of teachers.

Education Review asked a handful of leaders from different corners of New Zealand’s tertiary education sector which aspects of post-school education policy they think are most important for any future government to address and why.

JUDE BARBACK meets with new Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) president Jack Boyle and catches up with his predecessor Angela Roberts.

Universities New Zealand Executive Director CHRIS WHELAN says research funding levels go hand in hand with international university rankings.

PPTA president ANGELA ROBERTS says teachers are dismayed to see bulk funding included in the Ministry of Education’s school funding proposals.

The fight for the mighty research dollar is creating some significant barriers to scientists commenting on controversial issues. ELIZABETH McLEOD discovers why some of our leading minds are calling for a Commission for Science.

Schools wait in eager anticipation as the Ministry begins to explore different options for funding schools in an effort to replace the current decile system with a more targeted approach. By JUDE BARBACK.

Internship programmes for postgraduate students align with New Zealand’s tertiary education strategy as they help connect the dots between postgraduate education and the workplace. Yet where is the funding to support such initiatives? JUDE BARBACK investigates.

Tertiary sector research manager STEPHEN COX understands the difficulties that universities and institutes of technology face in finding appropriate external research funding opportunities. 

Education Review discovers a new Centre of Research Excellence tackling some big research issues for the benefit of New Zealand.

What’s in a number?

The Tertiary Education Commission’s decision to cease Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga’s funding prompted an outcry. JUDE BARBACK investigates allegations that the funding process was flawed and explores what the future holds for Māori-led research.

The positioning of New Zealand universities in the recently released 2014/2015 QS World University Rankings remains stable, however more investment is needed for our institutions to retain global competitiveness.

Australia is about to start charging postgraduate researchers fees. Does the change signal an end to the Kiwi PhD brain drain? JUDE BARBACKS reports.

Don’t forget the arts

The Government’s plans to reform university and wānanga governance councils to create smaller, skills-based councils have been opposed by many in the sector.

The new reports on tertiary education enrolments and earnings need to be considered in the context of the high costs associated with being a student.

With the proposed changes to the Performance-Based Research Fund announced, some are pleased to see a focus on more external research income. Others, however, are dismayed that the greater role of research is being neglected in the process.

PAT NEWMAN thinks teachers and principals should not be fooled by the Government’s “$359 million bolt out of the blue”.

Investing in Educational Success (IES) initiative has divided New Zealand’s education sector. JUDE BARBACK reports.

JUDE BARBACK visits New Zealand’s first partnership school, South Auckland Middle School, and talks to Alwyn Poole about the joys and challenges of getting a new school up and running amidst staunch opposition.

JUDE BARBACK looks at sector reaction to the Government’s proposal to introduce new roles to help lift student achievement.

Education Review finds out how a new AoG contract could help lower schools’ energy bills.

JUDE BARBACK looks at the mounting tensions in Northland as PPTA members enforce their ban on teaching students from the new partnership school.

GRAY CLEVELAND and TONY SIMPSON give the full story behind their David and Goliath court battle with the Ministry of Education and how unwavering community support kept them going.

The Ministry of Education’s troubled payroll system is allegedly on the mend, but at what cost? JUDE BARBACK reflects on Novopay’s painful journey so far.

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.

A review of New Zealand’s tertiary education funding system, the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF), looks set to place more emphasis on commercialised research, a proposal that has attracted some criticism. Will this and other changes result in a new and improved funding process for tertiary education organisations?

Despite unrest around the current school decile system, the Ministry of Education says there are no plans yet for a formal review. JUDE BARBACK considers what’s in a number.

Last year, Education Review looked at the fledgling AoG contracts for schools and noted the lack of buy-in. One year on, the tide appears to be changing, with more and more schools opting for AoG contracts. JUDE BARBACK looks at the ongoing work of the MBIE to increase schools’ awareness and dispel common misconceptions about the contracts.

JUDE BARBACK takes a closer look at the Learning and Change Networks initiative that is empowering New Zealand schools to raise achievement – and gaining global recognition.

Murrays Bay Intermediate principal COLIN DALE discusses the challenges that emerged when an incorporated society, designed to run a music school attached to the school, viewed its role beyond what was intended. With the matter reaching High Court, Dale’s compelling account reveals an aspect of school management that other schools should heed with caution.

Education Review asks Jason Wozniak of Aurecon about the decisions made and lessons learned from designing, building, and furnishing New Zealand’s first Public Private Partnership (PPP) schools at Hobsonville Point.

General Manager of KiwiNet, DR BRAM SMITH, says new entrepreneurial research is changing the face of innovation in New Zealand.

International student numbers may be down, but educational diplomacy, along with other initiatives to provide a more transparent system for overseas students are in full swing as the Government strives to double New Zealand’s export education industry by 2025.

Concerns over health and safety, increasing inequality between and within schools, financial pressure on parents, and difficulty with fundraising all create hurdles for the overseas school trip. However, many schools believe these obstacles should not stand in the way of offering their students the chance to experience the world.

When Judge Dobson overruled the Ministry of Education’s decision to close Salisbury School, many were relieved. But the threat of closure has cast a question mark over the future of special education in New Zealand.

Mixed reactions emerge as Christchurch communities take part in consultation about the proposed education renewal plan.

The Ministry of Education’s new payroll system Novopay has caused many problems for many schools. JUDE BARBACK considers whether it is one mishap too many for New Zealand education.

Of all the controversial issues New Zealand’s education sector has faced this year, charter schools remain one of the most contentious. Education Review gets both sides of the story.

The Education Review Office’s decision to scrap decile ratings from its school reports raises the question of the purpose and usefulness of the school decile system. JUDE BARBACK reports.

The new Advanced Technology Institute. The hefty 2012 Technology Development Grant. The 70 postgraduate internships. The business incubator grants to young technology companies. All government initiatives launched in an effort to boost R&D in New Zealand.

The Government’s intention to remove eligibility for student allowances for postgraduate students has sparked an uproar among postgraduate students across New Zealand.

Teachers Council director, PETER LIND says we need to consider the international research first.

As the sector gears up for a major teacher education conference next month, experts give their opinions on some of the key issues facing initial teacher education in New Zealand. JOHN O’NELL says there are four key issues that constitute a major crisis

Education Review asks Education New Zealand CEO GRANT McPHERSON how the new government agency plans to achieve its international education targets.

Education Review delves into at what is driving the push to increase class sizes and why the education sector is so opposed.

The New Zealand Government’s recent announcement of the new charter schools policy has met with mixed reactions. Here, two experts voice their opinions.

MARTY PILOTT outlines the tentative plans for the allocation of the delivery of ESOL to the 700 new places announced in the 2011 budget.

GEOFF VAUSE crunches the numbers and checks the politics of offshore education cash

MICHELLE WAITZMAN of Education New Zealand discusses the importance of strong relationships with international education agents

GEOFF VAUSE notes some of the initiatives coming from government, and underlines the need for the whole export education sector to build on the achievements

JOHN GERRITSEN previews this year’s teacher pay talks

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

The government applied $4.3 billion in operating expenditure to providers and students in the tertiary sector in 2009. About a quarter of that was spent on supporting students through loans and allowances.

DAVID CRAIG uses a question and answer format to review secondary school teachers’ industrial action.

We spend 10 times as much putting a young person through ‘crime school’ than high school. Dr JOHN LANGLEY asks why.