Minister's introduction
While it was only a matter of days ago that the last newsletter was
distributed, I felt that two announcements I have made this week are so
important that another issue was warranted.
The first was yesterday when I had the pleasure of visiting Wadestown
School in Wellington to unveil new assessment tools.
You might remember that the Government rejected the National testing plans
of my predecessor. That decision was based on what we thought would be the
best for learning and as an alternative, assessment tools have been
developed.
I'm personally very excited about the quality of the material. It is
firmly based on the Government's policy that the assessment of students
would be based on the use of information that would improve teaching and
learning, and not on ranking schools.
More details are outlined below.
The other major announcement is news of another 350 more full time teacher
equivalents next year.
This is the start of our response to the school staffing review and will
cost an extra $27 million a year.
You can also read about announcements made last week concerning schools in
Flaxmere and the commitment the Government has made to extend the Flaxmere
Project to raise educational achievement in the area.
The trip I made to the Hawke's Bay with Parekura Horomia was also special
because I was able to visit Te Aute College for the first time. One of the
main reasons for that visit was to meet with boys from St Stephen's who now
attend the school.
Trevor Mallard
Minister of Education
More Teachers In Schools
The Government will fund 350 more full time teacher equivalents as the next
step in implementing recommendations in the school staffing review.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard said schools will receive an increased
staffing entitlement in time for the beginning of the first term next year.
Most, although not all, schools will receive some increase in entitlement.
The extra staff will cost about $27 million each year.
Final details on how the additional staffing will be distributed will be
determined after consultation with the sector
"This is the second step in an ongoing process of staffing improvements
across all parts of the school sector. The first step was the 160 new full
time teacher equivalents in small rural schools this year. As well, many
schools have chosen to use money redistributed as a result of the end of
bulk funding to fund extra staff.
Schools will be advised of their provisional staffing entitlements for 2002
in September, as part of the usual process.
New Assessment Tools
Primary school teachers are being given new tools to help them accurately
assess how much children are learning at school.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard today unveiled the new literacy
assessment tools, which will be available for the start of next year for
students in Years 5-7. Numeracy assessment tools are also being developed
and will be available for the start of 2003.
The Government has committed $28.4 million over the next two years to
assessment initiatives.
Schools will be provided with a CD-Rom to give teachers the ability to test
what their children have learned and show what they should be learning
next. It will also allow them to compare how their children are doing with
other children throughout the country.
"The tests will be able to be used any time during the school year and may
be designed to suit the whole class, a group of children, or an individual.
The initiative will provide teachers with exemplars of student work in all
areas of the school curriculum, to show the progress that learning is
expected to make; more literacy and numeracy assessment tests; further
development of the Assessment Resource Banks; and additional professional
development to help teachers to make better use of assessment information.
More information is available at: www.tki.org.nz/e/assessment/
Further Help For Flaxmere Project
Efforts to improve education in Flaxmere received a boost last week with
the signing of a new funding agreement for the Flaxmere Project.
The project seeks to raise the profile of learning throughout the whole
Flaxmere Community by establishing strong partnerships between homes,
schools and the Ministry of Education."
Trevor Mallard confirmed that more than $800,000 will be made available
over the next 12 months to fund a number of exciting initiatives.
Details can be found on this Web site, here.
Tertiary Education Report
Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education) Steve Maharey has
called for a wide-ranging debate on the contribution tertiary education can
make to New Zealand's economic and social development, following the
release of the Tertiary Education Advisory Commission's third report this
week.
The Shaping the Strategy report recommends a set of priorities that would
give effect to a national Tertiary Education Strategy, aimed at advancing
the country's strategic goals. The report also sets out a 'scorecard' to
evaluate the contribution of
the tertiary education system, and outlines how the desirability of
programmes and initiatives would be assessed.
Mr Maharey said that adopting a strategic approach to tertiary education
was vital if New Zealand was going to succeed as a knowledge nation.
A website for discussion is at: www.talktertiarystrategy.minedu.govt.nz.
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
