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The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says the Prime Minister is clearly missing the point by promising further educational reform around an untried system of National Standards. More >>
Faculty of Education Professor John Hattie and the Visible Learning Lab at The University of Auckland will run national standards workshops for teachers in 2010. More >>
The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa is questioning how the Education Minister can expect professional trainers to successfully train schools to implement National Standards when the Standards are completely untried and untested. More >>
PAUL: So the school year has started in a climate of some agro between the Primary Teachers' Union, the NZEI, the Principals and the government. At issue the government's new system of assessing the progress of our children from year 1 at primary school. More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley says today’s Nielsen survey results in the New Zealand Herald confirm the overwhelming support parents have for National Standards. More >>
With unemployment statistics the highest they have been in a decade it is critical to invest more in education, not less, PPTA president Kate Gainsford says. More >>
Family First NZ is reminding and possibly informing parents that when they complete their IRD Tax Returns for the financial year ended 31 March 2010, they are entitled to claim back 1/3’rd of their school fees. More >>
The Alliance Party says teachers are right to be concerned about the national standards about to be introduced into primary schools this year. Parents should be concerned as well. More >>
An independent trial of the Government’s controversial National Standards regime would be the most sensible way to find out if it will help or hinder Kiwi children, Labour Party education spokesman Trevor Mallard said today. More >>
Yesterday, together with the Minister of Education, I welcomed the introduction of National Standards in literacy and numeracy into New Zealand's Year 1-8 schools. More >>
Labour has welcomed the release of the Government’s consultation document on the review of special education and is urging it to take seriously the submissions of parents, students and other interested parties. Special Education spokesperson Grant ... More >>
Associate Minister of Education Heather Roy today opened public consultation on the Review of Special Education initiated as part of ACT and National's commitment to providing all students in New Zealand with the opportunities and tools they need ... More >>
Associate Minister of Education Heather Roy today expressed her support for the Government’s new National Standards, an important policy that will provide parents with much-needed information about their children’s educational progress. "The Government has responded ... More >>
The Government’s national standards policy will see parents get their own homework as children go back to school this week. Prime Minister John Key announced a $200,000 publicity campaign Tuesday to promote the policy, which requires schools to compile ... More >>
The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says the government has launched what amounts to a National Standards marketing campaign, showing it is clearly on the back foot over the rollout of the policy. The Prime Minister and the Education Minister ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley today welcomed the introduction of National Standards in primary and intermediate schools as many students return from their summer break. More >>
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, MP for Maungakiekie, welcomed the introduction of National Standards this week, as primary and intermediate schools return after the summer break. “This is a very exciting year for education. Our National Standards policy ... More >>
Labour wants high standards in schools and for parents to know how their children are doing, but the Government’s process for National Standards is now National’s shambles, Labour leader Phil Goff said today. “Anne Tolley is simply not up to ... More >>
Prime Minister John Key’s reassurance to Pita Sharples that school league tables will not be an issue till “further down the track” is misleading nonsense, Labour Party education spokesman Trevor Mallard said today. Dr Sharples said yesterday that ... More >>
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. Good morning Principal David Selfe, teachers and, students. I’m delighted to be here today on your first day back at school for 2010 and at your first assembly of the year. I hope you all had a relaxing ... More >>
If the Government really wants to raise national standards of literacy and numeracy it needs to get serious about reducing socio-economic inequalities in our society, the Green Party said today. “The biggest influence on how well kids do at school ... More >>
New Zealand will join the Copenhagen accord on climate change – as long as everyone else does. That was the message Monday as Prime Minister John Key restated his commitment to reducing the country’s carbon emissions to 10-20 percent below 1990 levels. More >>
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples is right to have concerns regarding the introduction of National Standards, says Labour Associate Education Spokesperson Kelvin Davis. “But if he is against them, why did he and his party support them through Parliament?” ... More >>
The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says the Minister of Maori Affairs and Association Education Minister must seek an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister to express his opposition to the introduction of National Standards. Pita Sharples ... More >>
Auckland City Councillors Glenda Fryer and Cathy Casey are shocked that the future of Monte Cecilia school in Hillsborough is to be decided by a secret meeting on Wednesday 3rd February at 1.30 in the confidential section of the Arts, Culture and Recreation ... More >>
Associate Minister of Education Heather Roy will next week visit Evans Bay Intermediate School in Wellington, where she will launch the discussion document for the Government's Review of Special Education. At 8:30am on Wednesday February 3 Mrs Roy will join ... More >>
PPTA is releasing a paper today in a bid to inform debate on national standards and steer the country away from ‘assessment mania.’ The paper looks at the dangers of National’s standards in a country that “already over-assesses,” PPTA president ... More >>
Today’s report in the Dominion Post which suggests that $26 million is being spent on a “charm offensive” on National Standards is wrong, says Education Minister Anne Tolley. The headline in the newspaper, “$26 million to win over parents on ... More >>
It's been almost a year since New Zealand’s most iconic biscuits were last available, and TradeMe has the very first batch up for auction. Fresh out of the oven, the first batch of Girl Guide biscuits for 2010 is exclusively available for one lucky bidder. More >>
With the triennial trustee elections happening in May this year, it is appropriate to recognise the great work that school trustees do in the running of our 2,460 state and state integrated schools says Lorraine Kerr, President, New Zealand School Trustees ... More >>
Education International stands with UNESCO in its urgent call to action for the international community to invest in sustained aid to provide quality education for the most marginalized and poorest learners worldwide. More >>
Allegations that children’s lunch boxes have become increasingly unhealthy since the Government amended school administration guidelines last year are just fantasy, says Katherine Rich, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council. ... More >>
Environment Canterbury is joining with the Enviroschools Foundation in launching the ReGeneration Summer Jam event on Monday, January 11. The event marks the beginning of a five day summer camp where a hundred like minded young people from all over ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley has welcomed the outcome of the judicial review at the High Court in Christchurch into the closure process for Aorangi School. “The decision to close the school was not an easy one, but I was confident all along that ... More >>
Up to 9,000 children at more than 100 kindergartens across Auckland have donated their pocket money to UNICEF for tsunami-damaged pre-schools in Samoa. The 29 September tsunami that struck Samoa took a particularly heavy toll on the island’s youngest ... More >>
The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says a leaked Education Review Office report into teaching practices in Years 1 and 2 provides some useful information and is not as alarming as the government claims. More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley says immediate action is needed to help New Zealand’s youngest students, following the release of an alarming report by the Education Review Office (ERO). An ERO evaluation into reading and writing in the crucial Years 1 and ... More >>
Moves to silence teachers and principals from criticising the Minister of Education and Anne Tolley's threat to sack boards of trustees who allow staff to boycott the National Standards are like a red rag to a bull, says Kelvin Davis. “They have ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley is painting herself into a dangerous corner by threatening to sack the boards of trustees at any primary schools still refusing in February to implement the national standards. Tolley seems hellbent on treating the issue ... More >>
The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says the Education Minister’s refusal to trial National Standards will force schools into a difficult position over their implementation next year. Calls have been mounting from teachers, principals, academics ... More >>
The Food & Grocery Council (FGC) congratulates the Government and two FGC members Coca-Cola Amatil and Frucor for removing full sugar drinks from schools. “The successful implementation of the Voluntary Schools Agreement today shows that when Governments ... More >>
The move by Coca Cola and Pepsi to no longer supply sugar-filled fizzy drinks to schools is just a ploy to keep vending machines and their brands in schools, Green Party Food spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today. “The much touted agreement is more ... More >>
The summer school holidays are just around the corner and Hutt City Council’s Leisure Active team have put together an exciting range of fun activities guaranteed to keep the kids entertained. Surf life saving, bush walking, softball, indoor sports, kite ... More >>
Details of the rollout of a Positive Behaviour for Learning Action Plan were announced by the Ministry of Education today and have been published on www.minedu.govt.nz. The Plan has been developed in association with eight other education sector agencies. ... More >>
The Ministry of Education and Treasury are assessing the suitability of public private partnerships (PPPs) for building and maintaining some new school property, the Minister of Education Anne Tolley has announced. “We would only accept PPPs for school property ... More >>
An attempt by the State Services Commission to silence criticism of the Government by teachers and principals should be stopped in its tracks, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Grant Robertson said today. “It is the absolute right of teachers ... More >>
Local musical artists lay down an album to support Newtown School, and the Newtown Festival! More >>
The lack of investment in public education and failure to address low pay are glaring holes in the first report of the 2025 Taskforce, says the education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa. The Don Brash-led Taskforce has released its first report into how ... More >>
National’s announcement today that it is shoehorning its controversial National Standards into the Pasifika Education Plan puts ideology before effectiveness, Labour's spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said. “The Pasifika ... More >>
Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu today described the revised Pasifika Education Plan 2009-2012 as a key stepping stone to raise Pacific education results. “Along with young Maori, Pacific young people are our future workforce,” she ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley says the revised Pasifika Education Plan 2009-2012, which was launched today, will focus on raising achievement among Pasifika students. “In virtually all areas, Pasifika participation and achievement in education is ... More >>
Government is investing $10.8 million in a three-year programme to support teachers to use digital technology to boost student achievement, says Education Minister Anne Tolley. More >>
Labour's Lianne Dalziel says she is appalled to discover that Education Minister Anne Tolley publicly announced confirmation of her final decision to close Aorangi School without telling teachers and parents so that she could put her reasons in ... More >>
Frontline health professionals are being given extra paperwork to help DHBs look better in the Government's health league tables, Labour Associate Health spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway said. “In response to questions from representatives of Lakes ... More >>
The Ashhurst and Woodville schools were two major recipients in the latest round of allocations from the Meridian Te Apiti Community Fund, both receiving $8,000 for new fitness trails. More >>
Minister, we are education academics from the Universities of Otago, Waikato and Auckland who attended the National Standards forum organised by the NZEI last week. More >>
Over the past 30 years, the public has regularly been treated as laboratory rats for this or that ideological hobby horse of government. Crash on through and pick up the pieces later is the Kiwi style of management, possibly because those in power ... More >>
Labour MP Lianne Dalziel says that she is appalled that Education Minister Anne Tolley has confirmed her decision to close Aorangi School. "She made up her mind months ago and the community has been up against a brick wall trying to change her rigid ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced that Aorangi School in Christchurch will close on 27 January 2010. “This has not been an easy decision to make, but after considering final submissions from the school and from the Ministry of Education ... More >>
UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne is urging Minister of Education Anne Tolley to ease the burden on the staff, students and parents of Aorangi School and make a decision over the school’s future as soon as possible. “The staff, students and parents ... More >>
Maungakiekie MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga is delighted that six schools in the electorate will continue to receive Government funding for fruit for their students. “When introduced, the previous government said Fruit in Schools funding would be for three ... More >>
Northland School junior historians awarded UNESCO Living Heritage Award Nearly sixty years after a young New Zealand pilot died saving a village in WWII, a group of Wellington school children have won a Living Heritage Award for an online project that remembers ... More >>
Are Mangroves unwanted weeds, the "Gorse of the sea" or are they beautiful trees that attract native birds? Mangrove swamps are prevalent throughout Takapuna and yet local youngsters discovered that adults seemed divided over where they were a ... More >>
An online history project initiated by the children of tiny Mahana Primary School - a rural school 30km from Nelson - has won a Living Heritage Taonga Tuku Iho Award for 2009. The students recognised that their small community was changing and they ... More >>
Education sector representatives and leaders will be taking a list of concerns to the government over the implementation of its National Standards policy, and have suggested the Standards be trialled before being fully adopted. The policy was the ... More >>
Educating young New Zealanders from low decile schools about farming is why Federated Farmers backs the efforts of Christine Fernyhough - philanthropist, farmer, inventor and author of Ben and Mark, Boys of the High Country. “Duffy Books in Homes provides ... More >>
Work for Free Day is being marked today and the education sector union NZEI says it should serve to highlight the government’s continued efforts to undermine the value of women’s work. The Pay Equity Challenge Coalition says the 18th November ... More >>
Associate Minister of Education Heather Roy today announced that the Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (ORRS), which provide support to students with high special education needs, will be extended to include another 400 students around ... More >>
Paul, Board Chair, teachers, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen. Good morning, and thank you for your very warm welcome. I am delighted to be here this morning. One of the best things about being Associate Minister of Education is that I get ... More >>
Children from Kidsfirst South Brighton are on the right track for a lifetime of healthy eating – scooping a top South Island prize in the process. As part of November’s Fruit and Vegetable month, the kindergarten created an art montage of a healthy body ... More >>
Waimokoia Residential School in Auckland is to close, Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced. “I have made my decision to close the school in the interests of the students, and based on reports from the Education Review Office (ERO) and the ... More >>
Associate Minister of Education Heather Roy today announced the appointment of the Gifted & Talented Advisory Committee which will provide advice on education tailored to gifted and talented students and to strengthen partnerships across the Education ... More >>
I would also like to thank everyone for being here today - parents, teachers, students, and those who have come from other schools. We are all here today to celebrate the establishment of the Patricia Avenue School satellite at the Te Awamutu College campus. ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley has today announced additional funding of $29.8 million for new buildings at 27 schools across New Zealand. “This funding will give a significant boost to schools, and builds on our Budget commitment to enhance school property,” ... More >>
It is a pleasure to be here this evening to welcome you to Parliament and to the official launch of Science OlympiaNZ (SONZ) More >>
Almost 60 percent of New Zealanders believe education about the dangers posed by pure methamphetamine (P) use and addiction should start as early as primary and intermediate school level. The scale of the P problem in New Zealand and New Zealanders’ desire ... More >>
An establishment board of trustees has been appointed for the new primary school in Churton Park, Wellington, the Acting Regional Manager of the Central South office of the Ministry of Education, Anne Devonshire announced today. ``Population growth ... More >>
Thousands of low paid school support staff are attending paid union meetings around the country to consider their next move in their stalled pay talks. Their collective agreement expired on March 1 and despite several days of negotiation with the Ministry ... More >>
A report released today outlines a vision for a national network of high quality community-based early childhood centres. The report ‘Strengthening Community-based Early Childhood Education in Aotearoa – New Zealand’ was authored by Helen May ... More >>
A new report, released today, calls for the coordinated development of public early childhood education services in every community. Entitled 'Strengthening Community-based Early Childhood Education in Aotearoa/New Zealand”, the report is the outcome of ... More >>
More New Zealanders are studying diplomas and higher-level tertiary education qualifications Secretary for Education Karen Sewell said today. From 2007 to 2008, the proportion of domestic students studying for diplomas and higher qualifications increased from ... More >>
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) specialty nursing section representing 580 nurses in New Zealand working with children and young people is delighted that the government has backtracked on its initial decision to scrap the fruit in schools ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced that Alternative Education contracts with schools will be extended for 2010. “I want to give certainty to the sector, following a review of Alternative Education,” said Mrs Tolley. “There will be ... More >>
“Changes to the qualified teacher targets for early childhood education and care centres will impact on the quality of services to young children and families” says New Zealand Kindergartens chief executive Clare Wells. The Minister of Education ... More >>
Moving the 80 per cent target for early childhood teacher registration out two years to 2012 is welcomed but will not solve the sector's current and damaging staff shortages, says the Early Childhood Council. Chief executive Sarah Farquhar says the number ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley has acknowledged the valuable work being done by New Zealand’s teachers as they celebrate World Teachers Day. “Teaching is a vitally important job, second only to parenting,” said Mrs Tolley. “Our children and ... More >>
Labour Leader Phil Goff joined in World Teachers Day at May Road Primary School in his Mt Roskill Electorate today. World Teachers Day celebrates the value of teaching and learning, with thousands of teachers, students, children and parents joining ... More >>
World Teacher’s Day is the perfect opportunity to recognise the important role played by qualified early childhood teachers says Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa / NZ Childcare Association Chief Executive Nancy Bell. “Having a day to recognise the ... More >>
Associate Minister of Education Heather Roy today welcomed the tabling in Parliament of a report by the Auditor-General on the Ministry of Education’s management of four initiatives to support school-age students it assesses as having the highest ... More >>
The Government has announced today that it will continue the Fruit in Schools programme, but is cutting the administration component. Health Minister Tony Ryall says "When introduced, the previous government said Fruit in Schools funding would be for three ... More >>
Thousands of children throughout the country will be putting their hands up for learning today as part of World Teachers Day celebrations. (Oct 30) More >>
Candidates in this year’s NCEA and Scholarship senior secondary school exams can sign up to receive reminders and updates from NZQA through the social networking site, Twitter. Around 140,000 students will be involved with exams from November ... More >>
Good morning ladies and gentleman, and thank you Margaret for your warm welcome. As Associate Minister of Education, it is a pleasure to be here today. Together the Narrative Assessment: A Guide for Teachers and The New Zealand Curriculum Exemplars ... More >>
PM dishes up $1 million in prizes; The future of the science system; Folic acid research shows low risk; Three ‘R’s approach draws fire More >>
The minister of education’s insistence on a limited three R’s focus for the so-called “national standards” will jeopardise students’ achievement in NCEA, PPTA president Kate Gainsford says. More >>
Labour Education spokesperson Trevor Mallard says care must be taken to ensure the risk of information gathered by the Government’s new National Standards are not used to stigmatise poorer schools. More >>
Today’s launch of new National Standards of literacy and numeracy means principals and teachers will finally get a look at what they’re expected to work with from the beginning of next year, says the education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa. More >>
Prime Minister John Key and Education Minister Anne Tolley today launched the National Standards in reading, writing and maths, which will help ensure students leave school with the skills they need to succeed. More >>
Prime Minister John Key will today fulfil a major election promise with the launch of National Standards in reading, writing, and maths for primary and intermediate schools. More >>
With the publication today of the National Standards in reading, writing and mathematics, the Ministry of Education will now focus on supporting schools to implement the curriculum and standards, and on the details of how the Ministry and schools will work together ... More >>
The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says students will be the ultimate losers from cuts to professional advice and support services for teachers. More >>
Remember National’s election promise to return New Zealand to the top half of the OECD tables? In government, its moves in education seem motivated more by a desire to return New Zealand to the golden age of Victorianism – when the three “R”s ... More >>
Not to be outdone by their dairy counterparts, Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre has joined the push to get farmers out to vote for a ‘Google doodle’, pointing out that sheep pop up in each year group. More >>
Google has revealed the Kiwi school students whose Google ‘doodles’ have made the top 20 in New Zealand’s first ever Doodle 4 Google competition, proudly supported by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. More >>
A record 640 teachers and leaders have been nominated in the 2009-2010 round of the NEiTA Foundation’s National Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards, a 236 per cent increase over the previous 2007– 08 round. More >>
We wanted to remind you that entries for the inaugural New Zealand Water Safety Awards close in two weeks on 31 October 2009. Not only does the winner of each category receive $5000 towards professional development, but they also get national recognition ... More >>
Thirty five primary school teachers from throughout New Zealand have been awarded Primary Science Teacher Fellowships for the first two terms of 2010. This is the second intake of primary school teachers participating in the Primary Science Teacher ... More >>
EOTC Guidelines - Bringing the Curriculum Alive – updated guidelines for education outside the classroom (EOTC) published Opportunities for children to learn in and about their community and environment have been enhanced with the publication today ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley made a commitment to provide all schools with access to ultra-fast broadband at ULearn today. More >>
The school-leaver statistics released by the Ministry of Education show the need for National Standards to lift achievement levels says Education Minister Anne Tolley. “The figures show that nearly one in five school leavers failed to achieve NCEA ... More >>
Auckland school principal Frances Nelson will continue to lead the country’s largest education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa, after being elected President for an unprecedented third term. More >>
Twenty-six schools in the Pataka-Taranaki area have banded together to improve their school governance. More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley’s explanation today for her change of heart on making new entrant class sizes bigger does not add up, Labour’s education spokesperson Trevor Mallard said today. More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley has welcomed the release of the Auditor-General's report, following an inquiry into the Ministry of Education's 2008 school transport tender process. "I believe this inquiry had to take place, given the concerns in ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley’s apparent concerns about the sector’s under-performance for Maori students ring hollow in light of National’s attempts to block a Maori Affairs select committee inquiry into the matter, says Labour MP Kelvin Davis. More >>
Plans to tackle anti-social behaviour at schools, announced by education minister Anne Tolley today are a step in the right direction – but will not be enough to help teachers already dealing with disturbed and violent students, says PPTA president ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley has decided that Aorangi School in Christchurch should close. More >>
School support staff have laid down a strong challenge to the Minister of Education for the government to recognise their work and settle their pay negotiations with a fair pay offer. At the Annual Meeting of NZEI, the country’s largest education ... More >>
UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has spoken out strongly against suggestions children as young as nine could come to New Zealand as unaccompanied overseas students. “I think the idea is plain daft – and grossly unfair to the children themselves. “A ... More >>
New Zealand schools could find themselves baby sitting international students as young as five years old under a flawed and outdated National Party plan, Labour’s Education spokesperson Trevor Mallard says. More >>
Anne Tolley keeps answering questions about National Standards in the House with reference to reporting to parents, says Labour’s Associate Education spokesperson Kelvin Davis. More >>
The New Zealand Audiological Society is warning of the long term damage mild hearing loss and noisy environments can have on a child’s learning and development. More >>
Private schools allow parents a choice as to how their children are educated. “The private school sector in New Zealand is generally strong. Our best private schools are very good indeed” said Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President of the Law Commission ... More >>
A Law Commission report issued today shows the law governing private schools needs to be brought up to date to ensure the schools meet accepted education standards, Labour’s education spokesman Trevor Mallard said today. More >>
Students, staff and trainees at Mt Eden's Maria Montessori Education Foundation (MMEF) were "singing for peace" today as part of a worldwide 24 hour project as part of the United Nations International Day of Peace. Montessori schools from around the ... More >>
The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says the government must recognise that a “bulldozer approach” to the introduction of National Standards will inevitably fail. The new National Standards for literacy and numeracy will be released at the ... More >>
Q+A’s Paul Holmes interviews Education Minister, Anne Tolley. Points of interest: - The Government won’t back down on funding cuts to night classes, money instead going to youth - Minister guarantees English language classes will remain despite ... More >>
Consultation feedback shows strong support from parents for National Standards, Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced. The Ministry of Education consulted widely between May and July on the Standards, which aim to lift the levels of achievement in literacy ... More >>
Maori parents will be none the wiser on how to engage with their child’s teachers despite thousands of dollars being spent on a series of consultation meetings around the country, says Labour Associate Education Spokesperson Kelvin Davis. “Many Maori ... More >>
At approximately 1.30am on Friday the 18th of September 2009 Police attended a motor vehicle crash on Wakanui Road, ASHBURTON. The crash involved a singe vehicle which was travelling East on Wakanui Road. The driver lost control of the vehicle prior ... More >>
School trustees say that scaremongering over league tables should not be allowed to overshadow parents’ right to know how their children are doing at school. New Zealand School Trustees Association President Lorraine Kerr says the amount of recent ... More >>
A new Education Review Office report shows that most primary and secondary schools are progressing well in preparing to implement the New Zealand Curriculum next year. “The report shows that in Terms 1 and 2 this year, 63 percent of secondary and ... More >>
Thousands more young Māori learners at 17 additional schools will benefit from the Te Kotahitanga secondary schools programme next year, Education Minister Anne Tolley and Associate Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples have announced. “Funding of almost ... More >>
The Obesity Action Coalition is right behind the call to reinstate healthy food guidelines in schools. More >>
The Government should listen to New Zealanders, admit it was wrong to dump school food guidelines earlier this year, and reinstate them,” said Green Party Food Spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today. A 16,000 signature petition being presented to Parliament ... More >>
The past winter’s swine flu had an impact upon the entries at this year’s Lincoln University Schools’ Science and Technology Fair (Canterbury – Westland). More >>
As Adult Learners’ Week reached its conclusion, it is timely to ask what Anne Tolley has learned from it, says Labour’s Tertiary Education Spokesperson, Maryan Street. “The main message emerging from Adult Learners’ Week around the country has been ... More >>
Hon Heather Roy speech to Sector and Stakeholders Group; Ministry of Education, Wellington; Thursday September 10 2009. Welcome to you all. Your presence today indicates your interest in the Review of Special Education and what it seeks to achieve: "providing ... More >>
“The quality of graduates of initial teacher education programmes has a strong impact on the future quality of the teaching profession,” according to Dr Peter Lind, Director of the New Zealand Teachers Council. “Anecdotal reports suggest ... More >>
The Foundation for Youth Development (FYD), a leading organisation in the field of youth development in New Zealand, is concerned that the OECD has found New Zealand has the second worst high school drop-out rate in the developed world. FYD co-founder, ... More >>
Mild iodine deficiency may prevent children from reaching their full intellectual potential, according to groundbreaking new University of Otago research. In the first study of its kind, Otago researchers have now shown that iodine supplementation to ... More >>
The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers is providing the world¹s newspapers with an eight-part serialized story for publication around International Literacy Day, 8 September, to help parents and teachers instil a love of reading. More >>
NorthTec Sport and Recreation students hosted more than 1,200 year 4 to year 8 students at the Whangarei Primary School Sports Associations’ (WPSSA) cross country championships at Barge Park, Whangarei on 4 September. More >>
Results are now in for the second annual Vocabulary Olympics, run by online vocabulary software company Language Perfect. The Vocabulary Olympics are a free event run in conjunction with International Languages Week. Language Perfect co-founder Craig ... More >>
Opawa School will benefit from a gardening workshop this Sunday, September 13 led by one of the 10 extraordinary New Zealanders featured in the full length documentary Earth Whisperers/Papatuanuku. More >>
Iconic New Zealand motor home manufacturer Ci Munro is all smiles as they announce their specialist transport engineering arm, Action Motor Bodies (AMB), has secured a three year contract to complete 94 mobile oral health dental surgeries as part ... More >>
An OECD report on children’s wellbeing is a wake up call that education initiatives alone won’t lift the achievement levels of New Zealand’s disadvantaged children, says the education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa. The report “Doing Better for Children” ... More >>
A survey of 500 schools is being carried out across the country to check how well they protect their pupils from sunburn. A public health researcher with the Cancer Society Social and Behavioural Research Unit at the Dunedin School of Medicine, Jan ... More >>
A social work expert and chair of a charity dedicated to preventing child abuse says greater government investment in early intervention programmes is the most effective way to turn around damning figures about child health and safety in New Zealand. ... More >>
The Public Service Association opposes closing the Ministry of Education’s residential schools for children with significant behaviour issues because there are no other educational facilities that can accommodate these children. Education Minister Anne ... More >>
Outcomes for New Zealand children are weak in several key areas, according to the OECD’s first ever report on children. Co‐author of the OECD report Mr Dominic Richardson concludes that “New Zealand needs to take a stronger policy focus on ... More >>
The Totalspan Undercover Kids Bus Shelter Programme has announced another 71 shelters will be erected over the coming months on rural school bus routes. More >>
Expulsion or suspension from school is rarely necessary if a whole-of-family approach is taken to student management and learning, says the Families Commission. Recent Ministry of Education statistics show that schools are standing down increasing numbers ... More >>
This week Fresh ‘n Fruity launches a nationwide school gardening programme with school children growing strawberry gardens in recycled yoghurt pots. More >>
Bay of Plenty Police, Blue Light Ventures and members of the Bay of Plenty Steamers rugby team will visit primary schools in Kawerau, Opotiki and Te Teko next week (Thursday 3 September) talking about how to keep safe and "playing by the rules". The Steamers ... More >>
Minister of Education and Tertiary Education Anne Tolley will present flagship New Zealand initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee, Trades Academies and National Standards at an OECD conference in Canada next week. Mrs Tolley will deliver a speech and lead ... More >>
A large-scale, grass-roots education campaign to raise literacy and education achievement levels in Manurewa is being launched this morning by Associate Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples. The Manurewa Literacy Project involves 29 schools and kura in teacher ... More >>
Ashburton Borough School is the first South Island school to win the Green-Gold Enviroschools award. Environment Canterbury chair Sir Kerry Burke said this is a tremendous accomplishment for the Ashburton Borough School. More >>
The Human Rights Commission will launch Religion in New Zealand Schools: Questions and Concerns at the New Zealand Diversity Forum at Victoria University, Wellington today. (subs: 24 August) In an easy question and answer format the booklet provides ... More >>
Recent research from the long-running Christchurch Heath and Development Study at the University of Otago, Christchurch shows that single-sex schooling may help to reduce the gender gap in educational achievement, producing a situation in which ... More >>
Murray McCully and Anne Tolley need to get their stories straight and assure Kiwis that funding for programmes like Stage Challenge, Kapa Haka, Polyfest and the Pasifika Festival will be funded next year, Labour’s Sport and Recreation spokesperson Chris ... More >>
Associate Minister of Education Heather Roy today released the Terms of Reference for the Government's Review of Special Education. This reflects the Government's expectations and aspirations for special education. "With this in mind we aim to ... More >>
School children from Dunedin and Wellington are calling on Education Minister Anne Tolley to reverse her decision to cut funding to enviroschools. Primary school students from two Wellington schools will gather on the steps of Parliament today to sign ... More >>
Click here to watch my latest video blog . ENCOURAGING SPORT IN SCHOOLS Often, politics can seem like a tug-of-war. And once in a while it actually is. I had fun out on the sportsfield with the children from Bairds Mainfreight Primary School in Otara ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley’s partial back-track today makes it even more important to continue the campaign against funding cuts for therapists in special schools, Labour Disability Issues Spokesperson Lynne Pillay says. “Anne Tolley has finally ... More >>
A Kerikeri site selected for a new Christian school has links to the missionary history of the nation. More >>
Children currently receiving additional therapy at 23 New Zealand schools will continue to be funded, Education Minister Anne Tolley announced today. “I have taken this decision following discussions with affected families and schools, and feedback received ... More >>
The Government’s back down on cutting therapy funding for special needs kids is a victory for the students, their families and the staff that care for them. But it is wrong that they intend to deprive children with the same conditions of this ... More >>
Tens of thousands of students and teachers from schools around New Zealand flocked online this week to have some fun with maths. Alan Parris, President of the New Zealand Association of Maths Teachers (NZAMT) says, “Maths Week has proved itself again ... More >>
National Standards in mathematics will build on the progress and achievement highlighted in the 2008 Numeracy Research and Evaluation reports, Education Minister Anne Tolley said when launching the reports today. "I am delighted with the difference the Numeracy ... More >>
It’s time for the government to recognise that school support staff are highly valued by their school communities and front up with a fair deal, says the education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa. In a co-ordinated effort last Friday more than a thousand ... More >>
This week more than 1,700 primary, intermediate, and secondary school students from around New Zealand will participate in a virtual trek to the bottom of the South Island to visit Meridian’s Manapori hydro-station and White Hill wind farm. More >>
Ladies and gentlemen, students, teachers, parents, grandparents and trustees. Good morning. I'm delighted to be here to help you mark another milestone in the development of Westmount School. I am honoured that you have asked me to open your new senior ... More >>
“Increasing physical activity is an excellent way of improving health for all individuals and sport has a role,” says Dr Robyn Toomath. “The new Kiwisport initiative will be great for some kids, but we know that most won’t persist with organised sport ... More >>
Prime Minister John Key today launched the National-led Government’s Kiwisport initiative for young people which will invest $82 million in school sports over the next four years. More >>
Picture this. A demolition company is poised to knock down an abandoned old wool scouring factory. But it’s not quite as simple as it looks: There’s been a break in, a laptop and a bulldozer have been stolen so the police have had to be called ... More >>
Prime Minister John Key will today urge all New Zealand children to think ‘big’ at a Parliamentary launch of the Life Education Trust’s ‘Wish Upon a Star’ national art competition which will bring outer space live into one New Zealand classroom ... More >>
UnitedFuture leader and Ohariu MP Peter Dunne has expressed his full support for school support staff in their current pay negotiations. Mr Dunne met with a delegation of school support staff and New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) members at his ... More >>
Taradale Primary School celebrates its 130th year with the opening of a ‘high tec’ media suite that will ensure its students are at the forefront of computer technology for years to come. The school and its community will be celebrating the opening of ... More >>
About 7,500 more children will have the opportunity to learn with full stomachs as a result of a Government decision to help expand KidsCan StandTall’s ‘Food For Kids’ programme, Prime Minister John Key announced today. More >>
New York, Aug 5 2009 12:10PM Poverty is the biggest threat to the educational development of children around the world, a senior United Nations official today warned hundreds of students gathered for the start of the first ever Global Model UN (GMUN) conference. More >>
One of the kiwi re-introduced by the community into the Rimutaka Forest Park has been killed by a dog, highlighting the importance of keeping dogs on a lead in the park. More >>
Hon Heather Roy speech to Victoria University Research Luncheon on Early Childhood Communication Issues; Wellesley Hotel, Wellington; Wednesday August 5 2009. More >>
Pero’s opening $500 bid for the country’s most patriotic apple – part of the Big Night In KidsCan auction – is his second venture into the world of remarkable fruit. More >>
What do funky feet, a skate board, gumboot and buttons mean for walking to school? An initiative to get 5-13 year-old school children active to and from school has been taken up in a joint project by the Road Safety Co-ordinator at Thames-Coromandel ... More >>
The National Government’s decision to cut funding for special needs kids in our schools is wrong and must be reversed, Labour Leader Phil Goff said today. More >>
August 3 2009: Christchurch Airport CEO and high profile motorsport competitor Jim Boult is using the skills of an aeronautical engineer to help design his entry for the Arrowtown Pre-School’s trolley grand prix on November 21. More >>
The government is on the wrong track cutting teacher staffing, when other countries are investing in education as a pathway out of the recession, PPTA president Kate Gainsford says. A new report released by the PPTA - Secondary education and the economic ... More >>
Low immunisation rates in New Zealand mean that many New Zealand children under 5 are at risk of catching the highly infectious illness, measles. Our immunisation rates are amongst the lowest for any developed country, according to Dr Nikki Turner ... More >>
An unusual insulating flooring base will go down next Wednesday [August 5] at the site of Hukanui Primary School’s groundbreaking eco-classroom, the Living Room. Parents and supporters at the Hamilton school have collected and washed out 1,500 ... More >>
Maori Language Week has seen Waikato's Very Important Project (B4 School Checks) give one little boy a sneak preview of their special edition lunchboxes. More >>
The great Cuban philosopher, educator, writer and independence leader would have been proud of the citizens of Christchurch on Monday night. Some 500 of them packed the Papanui High School hall and pilloried two hapless Government list M.P.s (Wagner ... More >>
The National Government is refusing to rule out transferring publicly owned school sites into private hands, Labour’s Education spokesperson Trevor Mallard said today. “Minister of Education Anne Tolley today not only refused to rule out the transfer ... More >>
We should give the pigs a rest, and get on with living. Frank Füredi, ‘Swine Flu and the Dramatisation of Disease,’ Spiked , April 28, 2009 More >>
The Government should rethink its education funding priorities in light of recent reports of children facing severe hardship due to their special needs care being cut, said Green Party Education Spokesperson Catherine Delahunty. At Question Time ... More >>
New York, Jul 20 2009 10:10AM The former president of Ghana, John Kufuor, today was named a Global Ambassador against Hunger – with a focus on the need to provide good nutrition for the 66 million children who go to school hungry every day – ... More >>
Three quarters of New Zealanders blame parents for the rise in childhood obesity, a recent nationwide study conducted by Research International found. Some parents however, see the problem differently; blaming the recession and daily stresses for ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley is falling short on her "top priority" of increasing participation in early childhood education, Labour’s Early Childhood Education spokesperson Sue Moroney says. “Today's announcement that the Government is only ... More >>
Primary school students across New Zealand will win their schools a total of $25,000 in the inaugural Kmart art of giving competition which opens today. Students are invited to draw, paint a picture or make a collage that represents to them the spirit ... More >>
Fulbright New Zealand welcomes a study group of 15 American elementary school teachers to New Zealand today, on a two week study tour as part of the US Department of Education’s Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad programme. More >>
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