FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME GRANTS ANNOUNCED
Nearly 900 school property improvement projects in 719 schools, have been
approved under the Ministry of Education's Financial Assistance Scheme.
Trevor Mallard said that the Government allocated $22 million to the
assistance scheme this year for projects ranging from upgraded classrooms
to an auditorium. School contributions to their projects total $17 million.
When applications closed nearly two months ago, 1,355 applications had been
received. They were ranked by local District Property Consultative
Committees within funding pools for modernisation projects and for
community based "non code" projects.
The full list of approved projects is available on the Ministry of
Education's website at www.minedu.govt.nz
GRANTS FOR ECE QUALIFICATIONS UPGRADE
Five hundred incentive grants will be made available to early childhood
eduction centres to assist with staff upgrading.
The move follows an indication earlier this year from Education Minister
Trevor Mallard that people responsible for the daily running of early
childhood centres and co-ordinators in home-based schemes should hold a
Diploma of Teaching (ECE) or equivalent by 1 January 2005. Work is
progressing on this.
"The Government recognises that some assistance will be useful to help our
early childhood education services meet the costs of upgrading
qualifications," Trevor Mallard said.
Grants of $1047 per year, up to a maximum of $3682, will be allocated to
services whose staff meet the criteria and who began their teacher
education training programmes in 2000 or who enter them in 2001.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO DOONE REPORT
The Government has moved quickly to respond to the Report on Combating and
Preventing Maori Crime produced by former Police Commissioner Peter Doone
including extra money for Vote Education.
The Doone report addresses the causes of Maori offending and proposes
practical steps to reduce Maori crime. The Report highlights the fact that
Maori are over-represented at every stage of the criminal justice process.
It says the cause lies in Maori being over-represented in the social risk
factors that contribute to criminal behaviour.
Justice Minister Phil Goff has outlined an immediate response to the
findings and also foreshadowed future action.
For education that means $4.2 million over four years to promote
alternatives to suspension for Maori students with behavioural problems.
This measure will assist principals to find ways to keep at risk Maori
students in school and learning.
IMPROVING TERTIARY PARTICIPATION BY MAORI AND PACIFIC STUDENTS
A new funding package to foster greater tertiary institution responsiveness
to the particular needs of Maori and Pacific students builds on the series
of equity initiatives taken by the Government.
Associate Education Minister (tertiary) Steve Maharey said the Government
wants to ensure all New Zealanders are able to access lifelong learning in
the knowledge society. Initiatives taken so far to lower the cost of
tertiary education to students will cost $670m over four years. Mr Maharey
said a new $18m package (over four years) is being introduced from the 2001
academic year to fund support services at public tertiary education
institutions for Maori and Pacific students to ensure greater numbers begin
and complete post-school qualifications.
NEW APPOINTEES TO UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC COUNCILS
The Government has announced seven appointees to university and polytechnic
councils.
They are: John Jackman, University of Waikato; Prudence Taylor, Lincoln
University; Peter Cook and Kinsley Sampson,, Taranaki Polytechnic Council;
Bob Francis, UCOL; Chris Kirk-Burnnand, Whitireia Community Polytechnic;
and David Moloney, Hutt Valley Polytechnic Council.
Associate Education Minister (tertiary) Steve Maharey said tertiary
institution councils have the responsibility under the Labour Alliance
Government's first appointments to university and polytechnic councils
reflected the desire to strengthen their ability to respond to the local
needs of their communities and ensure the quality of their programmes.
"Attracting high quality council members is essential if our public
tertiary institutions are to make a successful transition to the
cooperative and collaborative tertiary system we are committed to
building," Steve Maharey said.
MOVES TO MAKE STUDENT LOAN PROCESSING EASIER
The Government has introduced a $6 million dollar package of improvements
to the student loans and allowances processing system.
The move follows an independent evaluation of the system to determine what
caused widespread delays this year and what improvements need to be made in
time for the next academic year.
The package of decisions provides funding to improve staffing levels and
waiting times on the Student Services 0800 phone line and to provide
limited networked on-campus services to students at 34 campus locations
nationwide.
SCHOOLS ON FIVE YEAR PROPERTY PROGRAMME SIGN UP
The first 60 schools taking part in the Government's new five year property
plan have started to formally sign up to the programme.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard visited Glen Taylor School in Glendowie
to sign the first agreement. It assures the school of $374,000 of capital
works funding from Government over the next five years.
"Despite being trustees of one of the largest property portfolios in the
country, schools have not previously know from one year to the next what
capital projects would be undertaken at their school. Consequently they
made decisions that did not make sense, like painting a wall one year and
demolishing it the next.
SIXTH FORM PORTRAIT COMPETITION
Congratulations to David Angus from Wellington College, Stella Rutherford
from Opononi Area School and Bonnie Fraser, from Massey High School who
were the prizewinners in the Friends of the National Portrait Gallery 6th
form competition.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard presented the artists with their awards
at a special ceremony at the gallery this week.
The Minister also acknowledged the work of two highly commended students,
Sarah Anderson of Hamilton Girls' High School and Richard Trieu, Newlands
College, Wellington.
The exhibition is a tribute to the skills, talents and perseverance of
young artists emerging from our schools.
Students from about 100 secondary schools took part in the competition.
The final exhibition includes work from about 40 schools.
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
