Hon Chris Hipkins
Minister of Education

7 February 2018 MEDIA STATEMENT
Community organisations awarded $2 million in education contracts

Education Minister Chris Hipkins has awarded 26 organisations across New Zealand with $2 million in education contracts to provide schools with learning experiences outside the classroom.

“The Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom initiative complements the local curriculum and supports around 500,000 students each year to participate in learning activities at zoos, museums, historic parks, art galleries, outdoor education facilities, performing arts, and virtual learning experiences,” Mr Hipkins says.

“These kind of learning experiences increase students’ awareness of their community and give them hugely valuable experiences that can’t be recreated in the classroom.

“This initiative provides opportunities for schools to work with the community to provide unique and interactive educational opportunities and for students to further develop life skills such as collaboration, communication and problem solving,” Mr Hipkins says.

The 26 community organisations will provide experiences covering maths, science and technology for a three-year contract period. They are in addition to another 46 ongoing contracts covering arts, health and physical education awarded in 2015 and social sciences and languages awarded in 2016.

The total annual amount of funding for the initiative across the curriculum is $4.9 million.

More information is available at: http://eotc.tki.org.nz/LEOTC-home
The following providers were successful in the latest Science, Mathematics and Technology Education tender round:
National
CORE Education – LEARNS Multiple Partner Virtual Field Trips
National Science Roadshow

Auckland
Stardome – Auckland Observatory & Planetarium
Auckland Zoo

Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Taupo
Tauranga City Council – Learning Through Discovery

Canterbury
Christchurch City Council
Department of Conservation, Aoraki District Office
EOS Ecology
Ferrymead Heritage Park
Orana Wildlife Park
Science Alive Centre

Hawkes Bay/Gisborne
National Aquarium of New Zealand
Nga Mahi Te Taiao

Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast
University of Otago – NZ Marine Studies Centre – Nelson Region

Otago Southland
University of Otago – NZ Marine Studies Centre – Dunedin
Orokonui Ecosanctuary
Royal Albatross Centre

Tāi Tokerau
Whangarei Museum & Kiwi House

Taranaki, Manawatu and Whanganui
National Army Museum Te Mata Toa
Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre
Rotokare Scenic Reserve (Taranaki region only)
Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History (Manawatu and Whanganui regions only)

Wellington
Space Place at Carter Observatory
Island Bay Marine Education Centre
Wellington Gardens – Wellington City Council
Wellington Zoo

ends

© Scoop Media