MINISTER'S INTRODUCTION
I often write in this forum about the wonder of the Internet and the
difference that ICT can make in education. The amount of information
available at your fingertips is quite overwhelming and the potential for
boosting education is endless.
But we also know there is a dark side to the internet and schools should
all be aware of how to deal with some of the nasty aspects of modern
communications. Recently an example of this has been brought to my
attention and I think it is important to pass the information on.
Late last week, Ministry of Education officials were made aware of a
pornographic site with a very similar web address to Te Kete Ipurangi, the
online learning centre. The site is hosted in Armenia but it has not been
possible to trace the owner. The asking price to buy the domain name is up
to $US6000 and I regard this as a form of blackmail. It is an option that
we have considered, but the strong advice from both the Department of
Internal Affairs and the Police is that we should not succumb to blackmail
attempts and that even if we did, it is highly possible that the site would
not be removed. Other options that have been considered are blocking
access to the site within New Zealand through the Xtra network but that is
also not possible.
We have made the decision to let schools know of this incident and advise
of procedures schools can take to block access to the site within their
school systems. Formal notification has been faxed to all schools this
morning and a help desk has been set up within the Ministry of Education to
provide further information and advise on blocking software options. The
number is 0800 005161. You'll also find some helpful information on
www.tki.org.nz.
I felt sick when I heard about this. There is little doubt that this site
was set up with the explicit purpose of monetary gain through blackmail.
While TKI is mainly used by teachers, the site was probably chosen because
of its link to children.
By informing schools of this, we are taking a risk that it will encourage
people to purposely log on to the site. But I felt it was important to
give schools the chance to actively block the site from their systems and
take whatever other steps they consider necessary to protect their school
community. I have not looked at the site personally and do not intend to.
It would be sensible not to go to the site, as I understand that if you do,
it could result in the receipt of a stream of unsolicited e-mails about
similar material.
Trevor Mallard
Minister of Education
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN
Education Minister Trevor Mallard today released the final report from the
Early Childhood Education Strategic Plan Working Group.
The working group was established by the Minister in August 2000 to advise
the Government about the development of a Strategic Plan for early
childhood education.
The report proposes comprehensive changes for the ECE sector and
complements the Government key aim to increase participation in quality
early childhood education.
"Investment in education at an early age is a vital aspect of the
Government's push to provide all New Zealanders with opportunities for
excellence," Trevor Mallard said today.
The working group's final report can be found on the Ministry's Website:
http://www.minedu.govt.nz
COMPETENT CHILDREN RESEARCH
A significant research report just released, also confirms the Government's
views about the importance and value of early childhood education.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard last week released the Competent Children
at 10 report which is part of on-going study by the New Zealand Council for
Educational Research. It has followed the competencies of a sample of
children, from age five, in the Wellington region.
The researchers conducted the latest study when the children were 10,
looking at them in the context of family background, home activities, early
childhood education experiences and school resources. Competencies examined
were communication, curiosity, perseverance, social skills, individual
responsibility, literacy, maths, problem-solving and motor skills.
"From the beginning, in 1992, this long-term study related particularly to
early childhood resourcing and targeting, and this continues to be of
important strategic value. It's noteworthy that at age ten, children who
experienced quality early childhood education stand out."
The report is available at:
www.minedu.govt.nz/web/document/document_page.cfm?id=6402&p=5871.5873
COMPUTERS IN HOMES NOW IN FLAXMEREe
A highly successful partnership between the Government and the 2020 Trust ?
Computers in Homes ? has been extended today into the Hastings suburb of
Flaxmere.
Over the next two years, it will deliver computers to the homes of 200
families in Flaxmere. It will also provide them with technical support and
training along with free access to the Internet for six months.
The partnership is part of a wider programme aimed at helping increase
student achievement in the Flaxmere community.
EDI SAVINGS GO BACK TO SCHOOLS
More than $5 million dollars saved by merging Wainuiomata schools will be
available to boost education initiatives in the area. In the past the
Treasury retained savings.
The process used for this review will be a blueprint for future
reorganisations through the Education Development Initiative Policy.
The Wainuiomata money will be divided into two pools. The secondary
savings will result in a secondary pool of $2.64 million and the primary
savings result in a primary pool of $2.36 million. Seventy per cent of
each of the two pools will be distributed to the merged schools on the
basis of the rolls that have been used to calculate the savings. Twenty
per cent will be retained in a 'community pool' for the Joint Education
Development Initiative Group to use for valley-wide projects. The remaining
10 per cent will be retained by the Ministry as a contingency in case the
rolls are larger than expected.
WORKING PARTY ON RETIREMENT SAVINGS
A working party to develop a retirement savings scheme for teachers and
principals will report back to the Government by the end of the year.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard said the working party to design the
scheme met for the first time this week. The scheme is due to be
introduced from July next year.
The teachers and principals retirement saving scheme working party was
proposed by the Government in their offers to the NZEI and the PPTA for
settlement of the respective teachers' and principals' collective
agreements.
DUNEDIN STUDENTS BATTLE NOXIOUS WEEDS
Fisheries Minister and Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson recently presented an
$8400 grant to a group of Dunedin high school students to help with their
battle against noxious Asian seaweed.
The Otago Girls High School Green Group won the grant to study undaria next
year, fast growing seaweed that threatens to smother New Zealand's marine
biodiversity and marine farming.
Pete Hodgson said students should not underestimate the importance of the
research they would be doing because "our knowledge about undaria is poor
and you are about to increase it".
The grant is from a New Zealand Glass Environment Fund.
SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS INCREASE
The Government has increased the size of individual scholarships for next
year's Prime Minister's Sport Scholarships. The change means athletes
receiving scholarships who are studying full time will get their full
tertiary fees paid - rather than to a set limit as it was this year.
The Prime Minister's Scholarships are a government initiative established
this year. Their aim is to assist young athletes wanting to pursue
academic studies alongside their sporting careers.
Information on the scholarships is available at www.nzas.org.nz.
ASPERGER SYNDROME
Education Minister Trevor Mallard said a recent visit to the Cloud 9
Screen Entertainment Group in Lower Hutt had the additional interest of
teaching him more about Asperger Syndrome. The chief executive Raymond
Thompson is founder of the Cloud 9 Children's Foundation, which was set up
to assist children and their families who are affected by Asperger
Syndrome. Asperger is a developmental condition and those diagnosed with
it need to learn how to socialise and understand the thoughts and feelings
of other people. They have difficulty with natural conversation, and can
develop intense fascination in a particular area of interest, they may also
be a little clumsy. For further information on the work of the
Foundation or Asperger Syndrome phone Toby James on (04) 577 3838
email:foundation@entercloud9.com or go to: www.withyoueverystepoftheway.com
COOK ISLAND EDUCATION SECTOR REVIEWED
The New Zealand Official Development Assistance (NZODA) has funded review
of the Cook Islands education sector, Tupuanga Okotai: Growing as One.
Associate Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Matt Robson said the review
has been positively received by Cook Islands officials and ministers. It
proposes a strong emphasis on the teaching of literacy and numeracy, and
recommends that the focus of education should be to prepare students to
bring the modern world to the Cook Islands. An officials' committee
described the report as well reasoned, coherent and accessible. Cabinet
has now asked the Ministry of Education to prepare cost estimates of the
recommendations, which are to be implemented over the next five years.
Contact: Jonathan.Curr@mfat.govt.nz
TERTIARY STUDENTS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT
Further action to ease the financial burden on students of tertiary
education will only happen if the Labour-Alliance Government is re-elected,
Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey said today.
Steve Maharey said the Government would be formally responding to the
inquiry by Parliament's Education and Science Select Committee into student
support this year and would set in place a work programme to address the
issues raised. He said the Labour-Alliance Government have made tertiary
education a major investment priority, spending $800 million over 4 years
to freeze fees, cancel interest off student loans and a range of other
student-focused initiatives.
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 Marian Hobbs, Associate Minister of Education
Fax: 04 495 8467 e-mail: mhobbs@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Parekura Horomia - Associate Minister of Education (Maori education)
Fax: 04 495 8457 e-mail: phoromia@ministers.govt.nz
