Minister's introduction
While it is the school holidays, I'm conscious that many principals and
teachers spend at least part of the official holiday period in catch up
mode. Or, in the case of the several hundred people I spoke to at the
Learning@School conference in Wellington this afternoon, you're taking part
in some learning yourself. This particular conference was about ICT.
My involvement included releasing the new draft strategy for ICT in
schools. The strategy reflects the Government's desire for ICT in education
to extend and deepen educational experiences. At its heart, is our vision
for education.
Other key elements include goals, sub-goals and action plans that will help
us achieve this vision. The strategy uses the 1998 strategy as a base, but
extends it to encompass the huge knowledge we have gained over the last few
years about ICT in education.
My vision for ICT in education is for all students, irrespective of their
backgrounds, to develop the knowledge, understandings, skills, and
attitudes to participate fully in society, to achieve in a global economy,
and to have a strong sense of identity and culture. There's more detail
about the strategy further down as well as a few other ICT related issues.
I've also included some advice about schools' rights in regard to Official
Information Act requests. In the last week, a number of schools have
forwarded an outside OIA request to my office. Sorry, but it is not
something that I can answer for you. You might, however, find the
information below useful.
Finally, thanks to the New Zealand Principals' Federation for hosting me at
their conference in Invercargill last week. It's always good to be able to
explain our direction in person as well as relaxing after the formal
programme. There must be something about that Southern hospitality because
I'm back in Invercargill later this week to talk to the School Trustees'
Association. By happy coincidence, there also happens to be a netball test
in the city.
Trevor Mallard
Minister of Education
Official Information Act Requests To Schools
When responding to official information requests, schools may charge for
the cost of providing the information to the requestor. The charge must be
reasonable and guidelines issued by the Department of Justice for the level
of charges by Government departments suggest that staff time be charged at
$28.00 per half hour, with the 1st hour free, and that the number of A4
pages exceeding 20 be charged at 20c a page.
When a charge is to be made the school should write to the requestor to let
them know of the proposed charge and to tell them that their agreement to
the charge is sought before further action is taken to implement the
request. The requestor should also be informed that if the charge is not
acceptable there is a right of review to the Ombudsman of the decision to
make a charge.
Management Information And Resourcing System For Education
Making information in schools more manageable and useful has moved a step
forward with the signing of an agreement to develop a management and
information resourcing system.
Computer company Compaq will design, build and roll out the new system. It
will be fully developed in New Zealand.
The integrated system will make it easier for information to be transferred
electronically between schools and the Ministry. It will also include
development of templates to make it easier for schools to report to parents
and government. And it will allow schools immediate access to their own
school data, which is held by the Ministry.
Draft Ict Strategy
The new draft ICT strategy uses the 1998 strategy as a base, but extends it
to encompass the huge knowledge we have gained over the last few years
about ICT in education.
For example, it recognises that in order to be successful, ICT in education
has to go beyond the school gate work in partnership with businesses and
communities. This approach is already reflected in Government supported
programmes like the digital opportunities projects and the computers in
homes scheme.
The new draft strategy encompasses what educational leaders have learnt
about e learning. There is more about student-centred learning and
encouraging critical thinking.
There is more of an emphasis on the importance of high quality leadership
and a focus on professional development. That ties in with the
Government's Budget announcement for principal leadership development and
support.
The strategy is available at: www.minedu.govt.nz or www.tki.org.nz
Hutt Students Receive Laptops
Education Minister Trevor Mallard, officially launched the 'Notebook Valley
Project' at Te Papa last week.
It's part of a two year trial to assess the effectiveness of this
technology in enhancing the teaching and learning of science and
mathematics at senior levels. Students from four Hutt secondary schools
are being given laptop computers, home internet connections so that they
can continue their work at home, remote access to the school network, and
resources developed by their teachers.
During the Te Papa launch event, students and staff used the notebooks to
demonstrate the new world of possibilities the technology will bring to the
classroom. Students contacted scientists at Scott Base and used the
Internet to investigate DNA, wave motion, and various maths applications.
Compaq is leading the project. Other business partners are Renaissance,
TKI, TelstraSaturn, and Microsoft NZ is providing software for the Notebooks and
servers for the network.
Ero Report On Ict Use In Schools
A new Education Review Office report indicates the extent of the change of
ICT in schools. It shows schools are working towards using ICT to improve
student knowledge, understandings, skills and attitudes.
There have been improvements not only in terms of access to equipment but
also in the use of ICT in curriculum delivery. Initiatives to train
principals in their role as professional leaders appear to have had an
impact in the establishment of a learning culture that includes ICT as a
significant component.
Most schools in New Zealand are now using computers for a variety of
aspects of administration and management, give priority to professional
development in ICT to meet the needs of individual staff and are attempting
to incorporate computers as a learning tool in the classroom.
The report is available at: www.ero.govt.nz
Ride The Knowledge Wave
The Government is currently involved in a project called the Knowledge
Wave. We want to raise New Zealand's sights to explore new ways to create
future economic prosperity and social well-being.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard said the aim is to spark a broad-based
national discussion on how New Zealand can benefit from the pursuit and
application of knowledge-based creativity and innovation.
Details about the Knowledge Wave, including the major conference early next
month, are available at: www.knowledgewave.org.nz
The Social Report 2001
The Social Report 2001 is the first step in what may become a regular
reporting programme on how we are doing as a country across a series of
social indicators.
The Report was released today by Social Services and Employment Steve
Maharey as a prototype for a regular publication on the social health of
the nation. It covers areas like, the quality of life of New Zealanders,
how different groups within the community fare, how New Zealand compares
with some other OECD countries on certain measures, and our progress over
time towards a better society.
The report is available at: www.mosp.govt.nz
School Leaver Destinations And Tracking Project
Data from approximately 2,000 Christchurch and Porirua secondary school
leavers will be collected in a pilot Destinations and Tracking project.
Associate Education Minister Steve Maharey said the aim of the pilot
Destinations and Tracking project is to develop and trial a tracking model,
which will collect data on school leavers' destinations.
This data will be used within schools to enhance their career education
programmes, help to identify possible tools and approach that may be used
with young people. It will provide information to a wider range of
agencies that work with school leavers who have not entered ongoing
training or employment. In addition information collected on school leaver
destinations will contribute to wider Government policy in this area.
The pilot project will be conducted over a year. It will begin by
gathering intended destinations data from secondary pupils in four Porirua
and up to fourteen Christchurch secondary schools at the end of the year.
The data will then be matched against actual destinations early in the New
Year.
Submissions For Working Party On Gifted Children
Submissions to the Ministerial Working Party on Gifted Education should be
sent by 18 July to: Working Party on Gifted Education, c/- Learning and
Evaluation Policy, Ministry of Education, P O Box 1666, Wellington.
The working party is providing the government with advice on setting up a
policy framework for the education of gifted and talented students in early
childhood and compulsory education and is due to report to the Minister by
the end of November.
For more information:
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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
