MINISTER'S INTRODUCTION
I spent last weekend in Taupo attending the hui taumata matauranga hosted
by Tuwharetoa. Several of my colleagues including Associate Education
Ministers Parekura Horomia and Steve Maharey were also there to listen to
ideas and receive recommendations on how to advance Maori education.
Aside from the large trout I managed to hook on Lake Taupo (which grows
larger every day the story is told), the hui was memorable for the energy,
drive and commitment of the participants.
We are all looking for a way forward to enhance Maori educational
achievement. There is no point in pontificating over Maori education
statistics or where previous administrations have gone wrong. We must
move on.
Massey University Professor Mason Durie opened the hui with a thought
provoking address that laid down a suggested framework for Maori education.
The recommendations showed that his ideas had much appeal.
The hui also showed there is a clear desire for greater Maori authority
over Maori education.
However, from reading the recommendations, it is clear there is still a lot
of debate to be held around the shape and format. As I said in my closing
address to the hui, it is not the Government's role to either lead, or
ignore that debate. Rather, we need to actively engage with Maori as it
takes place. Tuwharetoa has agreed to keep a watching brief over our
progress as we action recommendations from the weekend hui. I would like
to take this opportunity to thank Tuwharetoa for organising the hui.
My programme in the last couple of weeks has included four meetings with
principals about the Education Amendment Bill number 2. I specifically
wanted the chance to talk directly with principals about the reporting
changes in the bill. I think the significance of them largely passed people
by when they were announced last year. Thank you to the principals who
have attended these meetings. More will be held next week in Tauranga and
Hamilton. I also hope to shortly summarise the questions that principals
are asking about the changes and publish them on the website so more
people can access the information.
Trevor Mallard
Minister of Education
FIVE YEAR PROPERTY PLAN
Letters are being sent to schools in the next few days saying when they
will come onto the new five-year property plan as part of the Government's
decision to introduce greater fairness and certainty around schools'
capital works programmes.
Trevor Mallard said: "Since October last year, the Ministry has signed
agreements with almost all of the sixty schools that were included in the
first schools to enter the programme. Most of them have their first
projects underway and the feedback has been very supportive.
"Other schools will be rolled over into the programme in the next few
years. However, the Ministry is writing to schools this week to tell them
when they will have the option to enter the programme instead of just
knowing that it will be 'by 2004'. They will also get to know their
indicative budgets for this period.
"Generally schools with a greater need for work to be done will come in
first, with those that have had major redevelopments in the past coming on
stream later," Trevor Mallard said.
The mail out to schools starts today, but you can also access the
information now on the Ministry's website: www.minedu.govt.nz at
schools/property management/5 year property programme entry dates
RESOURCING FOR THE FUTURE SPENDING PLANS
Literacy and numeracy initiatives and extra staffing are the most popular
use of the extra money made available to schools through the redistribution
of money freed up by the removal of bulk funding.
The results of the report back process conducted last year were made public
this week. More than half the schools that received extra funding plan to
spend a total of nearly $10 million on numeracy and literacy initiatives.
Extra staffing and ways to reduce workload are also popular with more than
a thousand schools planning to spend nearly $26 million in these areas. To
put it in context, the $23 million proposed for extra staffing would pay
for more than 400 full time teachers. Other uses of the money include
special needs, ICT, and professional development.
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NEW MIGRANTS
Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel has announced funding of $674,000 over
18 months to pilot support services to help new resident migrants settle in
New Zealand Agencies working with asylum seekers and funding of orientation
courses for families of refugees would also receive $560,000 for their
work.
The pilots will fund a range of services including English language
support, links to job and training opportunities, community learning,
family support and social services.
"Settling or re-settling into a new country, new community and a new school
can be daunting for new residents. It is important we as a community,
support new members of our community. School communities should not feel
they alone are responsible for assisting new migrant families, or refugees
and their families. The government is committed to assisting new migrants
in settlement support, and to assisting refugees resettling in New
Zealand," Lianne Dalziel said.
Further information can be obtained from: daniel.newman@parliament.govt.nz
SCHOOL TRUSTEE ELECTIONS
Nominations for the school trustee elections opened this week with the good
news that 96 percent of current trustees would recommend the role to
others.
Parliament's Pacific MPs have joined a campaign to encourage Pacific family
members to put their names forward.
"Education is vital. The best way we can show our youngsters the value and
importance of education is by getting involved in their school and
education," they said.
NAYLAND COLLEGE JOINS GYMNASIUM DEFICIENCY PROGRAMME
Nayland College is the tenth school to gain funding from the Government's
gym deficiency programme. Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced the
decision when he visited the college today to open its new library and
digital information centre.
Nayland College was not included in schools which benefited from this
announcement last year because at that stage it was expected it would be
able to address the gymnasium deficiency through money it would receive to
cope with roll growth. However, revised estimates indicate that the
college's roll will not grow as fast as previously predicted.
The school is eligible for an extra $472,000 to upgrade its gym to make
good an area deficiency of 227 square metres.
STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATE
The headline interest rate for the student loan scheme is to remain at 7%
following the Government's decision to adopt a new rate setting formula.
Associate Education Minister (Tertiary) Steve Maharey announced this week
that adjustments to the thresholds of the student loan scheme. The
repayment threshold will rise from $14,678 to $15,132, and the income
threshold at which part-time students receive a full interest write-off
will rise from $24,596 to $25,073.
MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS EXPANDS
Steve Maharey has announced that the Government's successful Modern
Apprenticeships programme is to expand into industries as diverse as
aeronautical engineering, outdoor recreation, and sports turf management
this year
Modern Apprenticeships is a new work-based education initiative which
combines the best aspects of traditional apprenticeships with additional
features designed to assist more young people to get access to
employment-based training towards national qualifications.
The second phase of its nationwide roll-out begins in June 2001 bringing
the programme into the agriculture, forestry and fisheries; community and
social services; food and related products processing; and service
industries and expands coverage within the building and construction, and
engineering industries.
Further information about Modern Apprenticeships is available from Skill
New Zealand, call tollfree 0800 SKILLNZ (0800 754 556) or visit
www.modern-apprenticeships.govt.nz
COMING ATTRACTIONS
The Tertiary Education Advisory Commission report will be released next
Thursday, 7 March.
The Staffing Review Report will be released on Tuesday 13 March. All
schools will receive a copy of the report that week.
CONTACTS AND SUBSCRIPTION
Receive Wise Up by e-mail
Hon Trevor Mallard - Minister of Education
Fax: 04 495 8448 e-mail: tmallard@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Steve Maharey - Associate Minister of Education (tertiary)
Fax: 04 495 8443 e-mail: smaharey@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Lianne Dalziel - Associate Minister of Education (special education; transport)
Fax: 04 495 8463 e-mail: ldalziel@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Parekura Horomia - Associate Minister of Education (Maori education)
Fax: 04 495 8457 e-mail: phoromia@ministers.govt.nz
